2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26108094D

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 161

Offered March 3, 2026

Celebrating the life of Malcolm Pollard McConnell III.

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Patrons—VanValkenburg, Aird, Bagby, Jones, McDougle, Obenshain, Stanley, Sturtevant and Surovell; Delegates: Carr, LeVere Bolling and Willett

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WHEREAS, Malcolm Pollard McConnell III, a distinguished attorney who devoted his career to providing a voice for people in need and a beloved husband and father in Richmond, died on August 23, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm “Mic” McConnell grew up in the Richmond area and cultivated a love of comic book superheroes in his youth that influenced his life in many ways, from his later achievements as an endurance athlete, to his commitment to protecting the vulnerable through his career in the legal profession; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from J.R. Tucker High School, Mic McConnell earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Richmond, then began a 38-year career as an attorney; and

WHEREAS, Mic McConnell earned a reputation as a tireless and talented advocate for his clients who went above and beyond to provide clear communication and comforting guidance throughout the legal process; he was highly admired by colleagues for his work ethic, unshakeable integrity, and unwavering commitment to excellence; and

WHEREAS, Mic McConnell most recently served as the lead medical malpractice attorney at Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, having joined the firm in 2001; he was one of the few attorneys in the country who was board-certified in medical malpractice law by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys; and

WHEREAS, Mic McConnell served on the faculty of the Virginia College of Trial Advocacy and was an active member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, serving on its Board of Governors and as chair of its Medical Malpractice Legislative Subcommittee; he was a sought-after speaker and lecturer for medical professionals and lawyers on issues regarding medical malpractice law and trial advocacy; and

WHEREAS, among many accolades, Mic McConnell was listed in Virginia's Super Lawyers from 2006 through 2025 and in Best Lawyers in America from 2007 through 2025, with Best Lawyers in America naming him as Richmond's Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2024; he also received the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys-Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Civility and Professionalism Award in 2024 and was selected as the Top Medical Malpractice Lawyer by Richmond magazine in 1999; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his accomplishments as an attorney, Mic McConnell competed in numerous triathlon, bodybuilding, and long-distance open-water swimming events over the course of his life; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, Mic McConnell was listed in Guinness World Records for swimming in the longest continuous relay swim at 300 consecutive hours; he also swam across the Chesapeake Bay seven times and across the mouth of the Potomac River twice; and

WHEREAS, Mic McConnell will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his cherished wife, Virginia; his children, Malcolm IV and Vallie, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Malcolm Pollard McConnell III, an esteemed attorney and highly admired member of the Richmond community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Malcolm Pollard McConnell III as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.