Topic: Ronnie Earle

Ronald Dale "Ronnie" Earle (born February 23, 1942) was, until January 2009, the District Attorney for Travis County, Texas. He became nationally known for filing charges against House majority leader Tom DeLay in September 2005 for conspiring to violate Texas' election law and/or to launder money. Earle has also prosecuted other politicians, including Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and State Representative Mike Martin. On one occasion, he prosecuted himself for an election law violation after missing a campaign finance filing deadline by one day; he was fined $212.

Earle was born in Fort Worth, Texas and raised on a cattle ranch in Birdville, in Tarrant County. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, earned money working as a lifeguard, played football, and was president of his student council. After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law in 1967, Earle served as a municipal judge in Austin from 1969 to 1972. Earle was elected to the Texas Legislature as a Democrat in 1972, serving until 1977. Earle was elected district attorney of Travis County in 1976.

Earle has been married to his second wife, Twila Hugley Earle, for nearly three decades. With his first wife, Barbara, he had two children: Elisabeth and Jason Earle. He also has one stepdaughter, Nicki Rowling, and two grandchildren by his daughter, Elisabeth.