The U.S. Senate has approved a resolution to honor the life and career of former long-time U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. The resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and was co-sponsored by every member of the Senate. The measure was approved unanimously late Tuesday.
In 1978, Cochran successfully ran for the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Republican in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. As in the House of Representatives, his interests in the Senate reflected issues crucial to Mississippi: education, agriculture, economic development, and defense. His authorship of legislation helped to support initiatives in teacher training, adult literacy, wilderness protection, shipbuilding, military bases, and farm programs, as did his distinguished service as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. His support of Mississippi following the devastation of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina was particularly impressive.
Cochran is often referred to as a statesman, exhibiting the virtues of patience, integrity, and compassion while at the same time employing both his wealth of accumulated knowledge and his native rationality to lead his decisions. A devoted father, husband, music lover, tennis player, and friend, he leaves a legacy of public service that it was his genuine pleasure to perform. Cochran retired from the Senate last year and passed away on May 30th, 2019.
