Gov. Rick Perry has appointed an East Texas author and junior college instructor as the new state historian.  Perry's office said Wednesday that Bill O'Neal of Carthage is slated to serve in the post until Aug. 22, 2014.  O'Neal is a nonfiction author and history instructor at Panola College in Carthage. O'Neal received bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M University-Commerce. O'Neal completed post graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin.  O'Neal is a board member of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, Texas State Historical Association, and the West Texas Historical Association Advisory Board.