Draft:Mark M. Hennelly

Mark M. Hennelly (November 26, 1916 – September 1, 1983), born in St. Louis, Missouri, was a prominent American attorney and corporate executive, best known for his tenure as the President of Missouri Pacific Corp., and vice-president and General Counsel of Missouri Pacific Railroad. Hennelly led his company to victory arguing in front of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, Petitioner, v. City of Palestine, Texas, et al.

Early Life and Career
Born to a poor, working-class family of Irish immigrant parents, Mark M. Hennelly grew up in north St. Louis, where his father worked as a streetcar motorman. He attended St. Louis University and Washington University School of Law. He was put through law school by his cousin, Mark Eagleton, father of United States senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri. "I grew up with the memory of endless stories of how the British beat on my Irish-Catholic ancestors," says Hennelly " There was always the talk of the plight of the downtrodden and exploited. You come out of that with a tradition of feeling for the underdog."

Throughout World War II, Hennelly played a key role in the Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army). Following the surrender of the Axis armies, he was discharged from the Army and began his career as a lawyer. He first worked as a trial lawyer in the office of Morris Shenker before establishing his own law firm as a criminal defense lawyer. From 1947 until 1956, Mr. Hennelly gained a reputation for an impressive record of acquittals, trying about 30 major felony cases a year, often two cases a week. Most of his clients were acquitted.

Missouri Pacific Railroad and Corp.
In 1956, Hennelly joined the legal staff of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, eventually becoming vice-president and general counsel in 1961. Hennelly assumed the presidency of Missouri Pacific Corp. in August 1982. He resigned from his position in July the following year and returned to private law practice, joining the firm of Bryan, Cave, McPheeters & McRoberts.

Advocacy for James "Slick" Stidham
Hennelly and Stidham met in the mid-1950s when Stidham was one of seven convicts wrongfully accused of the murder of Walter Lee Donnell during a 1954 prison riot. Hennelly, believing in their innocence, decided to take up their case.

When James "Slick" Stidham and the other convicts were convicted for the murder in 1954, Hennelly relentlessly advocated for them, despite their criminal pasts. He dedicated a substantial amount of his personal time and resources, believing that a miscarriage of justice had occurred.

In addition to his role as president of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Hennelly took the bold step of arranging polygraph tests for the convicts, administered by Carroll Price, a specialist in the field. Despite the courts refusing to accept these results, Hennelly continued his pursuit of justice for these men.

Hennelly's relentless advocacy over the years led to multiple parole opportunities for the convicts. However, there were also instances of parole violations and subsequent convictions. Despite these setbacks, his commitment to the case never wavered, even as public interest and legal support for the convicts remained minimal.

After Hennelly's death in 1983, new evidence came to light suggesting the men's innocence. Irv Thompson's sister came forward, claiming that her brother had confessed to the murder of Donnell before his death. Yet, even this revelation did not lead to significant action or attention.

As one of Stidham's lawyers and his most dedicated advocate, Hennelly stood by him throughout the decades-long legal battle. The New York Times reported that Hennelly had spent upwards of $150,000 of his own money fighting the case. Despite the challenges, Hennelly's tireless pursuit of justice for James "Slick" Stidham and the other six convicts remains a testament to his unwavering belief in their innocence and his commitment to the principle of justice.

Political Involvement
In addition to Hennelly's legal and corporate work, he was active in the Democratic Party. Hennelly campaigned for Harry S. Truman in the 1948 United States presidential election, and Sen. Thomas C. Hennings Jr., D-Mo., in the 1950 United States Senate election in Missouri. In 1951, he was an unsuccessful candidate for president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. Through his life, Hennelly remained close friends with John L. McClellan, a tenured United States senator from Arkansas. In addition to being relatives, Hennelly shared a strong friendship with Thomas Eagleton, an American lawyer and United States senator, who also held a brief stint as Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern in 1972.

Personal Life
Hennelly died at the age of 66 at St. Mary's Health Center following a heart attack at his home.

Hennelly had four children with his wife, Marguerite. He is the great-uncle of filmmakers James Gunn and Sean Gunn.