This brilliant man, this beloved father, friend, and mentor, was born on May 24, 1935, in Lake Bluff, Ill., near Chicago. The Judge passed away on Dec. 24, joining his youngest son, our beloved Johnny, who also passed on Christmas Eve in 2009.
Judge McConnell attended Bay View High School in Milwaukee, earning the moniker “The Human Encyclopedia.” He was a four-sport letterman at Bay View in football, basketball, baseball, and track. After graduation, Judge McConnell joined the U.S. Army and earned the GI bill.
Upon his discharge, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After graduating from Marquette University law school, Judge McConnell worked for Procter & Gamble, then returned to Milwaukee to practice law as a trial attorney. In 1970, he campaigned and was elected the Waukesha County district attorney, serving two terms while amassing a record 12 homicide convictions, with one hung jury. Several neighboring counties appointed him special prosecutor for high-profile cases.
After returning to private law practice, Judge McConnell moved the family to Knoxville in 1980, where he worked as an assistant attorney general for Knox County. That same year the town of Farragut, where he and his family resided, was incorporated, and the town appointed Mr. McConnell as Farragut’s first town judge. After practicing in a private law practice and holding monthly court for 10 years, Judge McConnell was appointed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush as the administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration, presiding over hearings through 2000. Judge McConnell also joined the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of major while providing legal counsel.
Upon retirement, Judge McConnell continued in part-time law practice, specializing in helping clients obtain Social Security disability.
Judge McConnell was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mary (Mitchell) McConnell; brothers Bart, Bob, Ansley, and Malcolm; sister Ann; and son John. He is survived by a brother, Don McConnell; son Steve McConnell (Jayme); daughter Suzanne Purcell (Michael); son Joe McConnell (Lyn); daughter Martha Looney (Michael); and grandchildren Morgan, Erin, August, Lucy, Patrick, Miriam, and Claire.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Jan. 6 at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Graveside service with military honors followed the funeral Mass at Pleasant Forest Cemetery in Farragut. Donations in Judge McConnell’s memory may be made to the Special Olympics.
