Sheila McNeill Scholarship Fund
In Episode 68 of the Get ’N Your Business Podcast, host Alison Shores sits down with Leslie McNeill (Sheila’s daughter) and Keith Post (Executive Director, St. Marys Submarine Museum) to celebrate the life and legacy of Senator Sheila McNeill and introduce the Sheila McNeill Legacy Scholarship Fund. Through personal stories—from Sheila’s Hallmark store supporting deployed sailors to her barrier-breaking role as the first woman to serve as National President of the Navy League—listeners get a vivid picture of a leader who blended grit, grace, and relentless community service. Keith and Leslie share how Sheila championed the submarine force, helped retain the Coast Guard MSST in St. Marys, and drove projects like the waterfront “bankcraft” display and the Submarine Museum’s founding. They also honor her partnership with her husband, Arley, and the inspiration behind her book, What Are You Doing Here? (available here). The episode closes with how the new scholarship supports U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen with real-world expenses, and exactly how the community can pitch in.
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Chapters
0:00 Sponsors & opening1:27 What today’s episode is about: The Sheila McNeill Legacy Scholarship Fund 2:05 Who was Sheila McNeill? (Alison’s intro)
3:01 Balancing family, career & service — Leslie’s perspective
3:29 Early career wins & resilience
4:02 Hallmark store days: sending cards to deployed sailors
5:07 “Georgia” return-to-service story & how Sheila treated everyone the same 6:08 Mentorship moments: helping a friend become a U.S. citizen
7:12 The Hallmark legacy lives on in St. Marys
7:24 First female National President of the Navy League
8:44 “Chocolate submarines” & Capitol Hill advocacy
9:20 Waterfront submarine display (25 years)
9:50 Founding the St. Marys Submarine Museum
10:33 Why the Coast Guard unit is in St. Marys
11:14 Podcast studio = Sheila’s former office & table
11:39 Running for Senate: Leslie & Sheila’s mother-daughter campaign team
13:18 “Big little shoes to fill” & life lessons
15:28 ADICIMAD: Every day is Military Appreciation Day
16:11 Arley & Sheila: a lifelong partnership in service
18:02 New memorial road sign honoring Sheila
21:41 What the Scholarship Fund supports (midshipmen expenses beyond tuition) 22:32 How to donate & fund governance (Rick Thompson, board)
23:22 Midshipmen visits & museum connection
24:44 Thinking outside the box—Sheila’s influence
25:02 “What Are You Doing Here?” — the book title story
28:31 Writing the book & getting everyone’s blessing
30:12 Why this legacy fund matters
31:00 Road designation significance & new museum site
31:41 Closing, donation info & Submarine Museum plug
Summary Highlights
Why it matters: The Sheila McNeill Legacy Scholarship Fund helps Naval Academy midshipmen cover extra costs not included in tuition—continuing Sheila’s lifelong commitment to the sea services.
Trailblazer: Sheila served as the first and only female National President of the Navy League, helped secure key conversions for Georgia’s submarines, and tirelessly advocated on Capitol Hill.
Community builder: From the Submarine Museum’s founding and the waterfront display to MSST retention in St. Marys, Sheila turned big visions into lasting local impact.
Human first: Whether chatting with a seaman on a golf cart or a VIP, Sheila gave everyone the same undivided attention—and showed up for people, from PTA nights to citizenship tutoring.
Love story: A moving tribute to Sheila’s lifelong partnership with Arley McNeill—her biggest cheerleader and a pillar of service in his own right.
Book moment: The title of Sheila’s memoir, What Are You Doing Here?, comes from a WWII submariner who doubted her—until she won the room. (Get the book here)
A lasting honor: A new memorial road designation (Spur 40 to the elementary school) sits in front of her former store and the site of the future Submarine Museum—a fitting gateway to her legacy.
Governance & transparency: The fund is overseen by a dedicated board with financial compliance guided by Rick Thompson.
How to give: Donate via the show notes or call 912-729-5840 for directions to contribute.
Sheila McNeill Legacy Scholarship Fund Inc
PO Box 1783 Roswell, GA 30077 USA
