Thad Cochran
William Thad Cochran (/ˈkɒkrən/ KOK-rən; December 7, 1937 – May 30, 2019) was an American attorney and politician who served as a United States senator for Mississippi from 1978 to 2018. A Republican, he previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 1978.
Thad Cochran | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Mississippi | |
| In office December 27, 1978 – April 1, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | James Eastland |
| Succeeded by | Cindy Hyde-Smith |
| Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – April 1, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Mikulski |
| Succeeded by | Richard Shelby |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Harkin |
| Succeeded by | Saxby Chambliss |
| Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Leader | Bob Dole Trent Lott |
| Preceded by | John Chafee |
| Succeeded by | Connie Mack III |
| Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1991 | |
| Leader | Bob Dole |
| Preceded by | Jake Garn |
| Succeeded by | Bob Kasten |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – December 26, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Charles H. Griffin (Redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | Jon Hinson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Thad Cochran December 7, 1937 Pontotoc, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | May 30, 2019 (aged 81) Oxford, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1967–2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1967) |
| Spouses | Rose Clayton
(m. 1964; died 2014)Kay Webber (m. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Mississippi (BA, JD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1959–1961 |
| Rank | Ensign |
Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Cochran graduated from the University of Mississippi. He served in the United States Navy as an ensign (1959–1961) before graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law. After practicing law for several years in Jackson, Mississippi, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972. He served three terms in the House representing Jackson and portions of southwest Mississippi.
Cochran won a three-way race for U.S. Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican to win a United States Senate election in Mississippi since Blanche Bruce was elected during Reconstruction. He was subsequently reelected to six additional terms by wide margins. He was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2018. He also chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2003 to 2005. With over 45 years of combined House and Senate service, Cochran is the second longest-serving member of Congress ever from Mississippi, only after former Democratic U.S. Representative Jamie L. Whitten.
Cochran resigned from the Senate due to health issues in April 2018. Cochran died on May 30, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi.