1892 - 1954 Person Name: James Edwin McConnell Composer of "[I've a blest companion ever at my side]" in The Cyber Hymnal McConnell attended the Webb Preparatory School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. He worked with his father (former pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) in evangelism meetings for some time, playing the piano, singing, and directing the choir. In 1922 he began broadcasting his "Hymn Time" program on the radio, and was known as "Smilin’ Ed McConnell."
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J. Edwin McConnell