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After graduation from Rayville High School, McConnell attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then known as Northeast Louisiana Junior College in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. He served for two years overseas during [[World War II]] and completed his legal education at [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in [[Baton Rouge]]. He was the chairman of the board of Citizens Bank and Trust Company in Springhill. He was affiliated with Lions International, the American Legion, the [[Chamber of Commerce]], Masonic lodge, the Shriners, the [[United Way]].<ref name="Minden Herald 1962, p. 1">"McConnell Elected Head of Parish United Fund", ''Minden Herald'', March 29, 1962, p. 1</ref> and the [[United Methodist]] Church.<ref name=mcconnell/>

After graduation from Rayville High School, McConnell attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then known as Northeast Louisiana Junior College in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. He served for two years overseas during [[World War II]] and completed his legal education at [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in [[Baton Rouge]]. He was the chairman of the board of Citizens Bank and Trust Company in Springhill. He was affiliated with Lions International, the American Legion, the [[Chamber of Commerce]], Masonic lodge, the Shriners, the [[United Way]].<ref name="Minden Herald 1962, p. 1">"McConnell Elected Head of Parish United Fund", ''Minden Herald'', March 29, 1962, p. 1</ref> and the [[United Methodist]] Church.<ref name=mcconnell/>

McConnell and his wife, the former Mary Virginia Hathorn (1921-2009), had two daughters, Malinda M. Gore and Lenae M. Scott, both of the [[Shreveport]]-[[Bossier City]] metropolitan area.<ref name=mcconnell>"McConnell Announces Candidacy for One of Two Representative Positions," ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 26, 1967, p. 1.</ref> Mrs. McConnell, the daughter of Ernest Eldorado Hathorn and the former Claudia Waller, graduated in 1937 from Haynesville High School in Haynesville in Claiborne Parish and in 1941 from [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]]. Mary McConnell was for many years a business education teacher at several locations, including Springhill High School. She was [[Southern Baptist]].<ref name=mvhm>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=mary-mcconnell&pid=127847623|title=Obituary of Mary Virginia Hathorn McConnell|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'', May 31, 2009|accessdate=June 7, 2012}}</ref>​

McConnell and his wife, the former Mary Virginia Hathorn (1921-2009), had two daughters, Malinda M. Gore and Lenae M. Scott, both of the [[Shreveport]]-[[Bossier City]] metropolitan area.<ref name=mcconnell>"McConnell Announces Candidacy for One of Two Representative Positions," ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 26, 1967, p. 1.</ref> Mrs. McConnell, the daughter of Ernest Eldorado Hathorn and the former Claudia Waller, graduated in 1937 from Haynesville High School in Haynesville in Claiborne Parish and in 1941 from [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]]. Mary McConnell was for many years a business education teacher at several locations, including Springhill High School (now North Webster High School). She was [[Southern Baptist]].<ref name=mvhm>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=mary-mcconnell&pid=127847623|title=Obituary of Mary Virginia Hathorn McConnell|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'', May 31, 2009|accessdate=June 7, 2012}}</ref>​

==Political career==

==Political career==

In the April 1954 municipal primary, McConnell garnered 53 percent of the vote over two primary rivals, Jesse C. Anderson and Robert J. Hughes.<ref>"Springhill Elects New Mayor and Two Aldermen", ''Minden Press'', April 8, 1954, p. 1.</ref> He was succeeded after a single term by the businessman [[Jesse L. Boucher]]. From 1960 to 1969, McConnell was an elected member of the Webster Parish School Board.<ref name=mcconnell/> He resigned from the board two years into his second term<ref>"Charles E. McConnell Ward 2 School Board Member to Resign", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 27, 1969, p. 1.</ref> because in his words he had "too many irons in the fire to continue work on the board". A second board member, Alfred E. Day of Minden, a former schoolteacher, soon followed McConnell in resignation.<ref>"Webster Board Member A. E. Day Resigns Post", ''Minden Press-Herald'', May 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>

In the April 1954 municipal primary, McConnell garnered 53 percent of the vote over two primary rivals, Jesse C. Anderson and Robert J. Hughes.<ref>"Springhill Elects New Mayor and Two Aldermen", ''Minden Press'', April 8, 1954, p. 1.</ref> He was succeeded after a single term by the businessman [[Jesse L. Boucher]]. From 1960 to 1969, McConnell was an elected member of the Webster Parish School Board.<ref name=mcconnell/> He resigned from the board two years into his second term<ref>"Charles E. McConnell Ward 2 School Board Member to Resign", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 27, 1969, p. 1.</ref> because in his words he had "too many irons in the fire to continue work on the board." A second board member, Alfred E. Day of Minden, a former schoolteacher, soon followed McConnell in resignation.<ref>"Webster Board Member A. E. Day Resigns Post", ''Minden Press-Herald'', May 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>

McConnell was engaged in a law practice in Springhill with Roy Morris Fish. Johnnie Souter McMahen (1930-2012), the wife of subsequent Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], was their legal clerk. From 1974 to 1992, Mrs. McMahen was the Springhill city clerk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMahen&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=94968818&df=all&|title=Johnnie Souter McMahen|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 7, 2012|accessdate=September 16, 2014}}</ref> In 1962, McConnell was elected head of the Webster Parish United Way.<ref name="Minden Herald 1962, p. 1"/>​

McConnell was engaged in a law practice in Springhill with Roy Morris Fish. Johnnie Souter McMahen (1930-2012), the wife of subsequent Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], was their legal clerk. From 1974 to 1992, Mrs. McMahen was the Springhill city clerk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMahen&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=94968818&df=all&|title=Johnnie Souter McMahen|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 7, 2012|accessdate=September 16, 2014}}</ref> He was also in partnership with John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (1955-2020), in the firm McConnell & Slattery. Prior to becoming the Springhill city judge, Slattery was the city attorney for Springhill and the nearby communities of Cullen, Sarepta, Shongaloo, and Cotton Valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/hon-john-bernard-slattery-jr/|title=Hon. John Bernard Slattery, Jr.|author=Will Phillips|publisher=''[[Minden Press-Herald]]''|date=July 17, 2020|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>