Charles P. Connolly, born July 7, 1952, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in 1974 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Baylor University in 1978. After graduation, Mr. Connolly began his law practice with the office of the City Attorney in Wichita Falls, Texas and was First Assistant City Attorney in 1983 when he accepted a position with office of the City Attorney in Longview as First Assistant City Attorney. He left that position in 1986 to associate with the firm of Merriman, Patterson & Allison. Mr. Connolly is an active member of the State Bar of Texas, Gregg and Northeast Texas Bar Associations, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and the Texas Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. He is admitted to practice before all state courts of Texas; the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Northern Disticts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.