Throughout the consolidations, the partnership of O’Connell and Odegard never abandoned their commitment to service. They implemented 24-hour operator service and brought dial-operated technology to rural America in the 1920’s. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, O’Connell and Odegard developed many practices and procedures which are still in use today including service and technology standards, employee relations practices, centralized accounting and finance functions with charges allocated back to the operating units, and budgeting, engineering, plant, commercial and traffic.
In the early 1930’s, the partners were responsible for developing the toll separation division of revenue procedures with the Bell Operating Companies. This major financial accomplishment brought about a much needed source of revenue for all non-Bell companies. Individually both Messrs. O’Connell and Odegard were active in many industry and civic activities, with O’Connell serving as the key representative for state and national association concerns. Odegard died in 1934.
