Thad Cochran

Thad Cochran was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party who served as a United States Senator from Mississippi from 1979 until his retirement in 2018. Born on December 7, 1937, in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Cochran attended the University of Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree and later a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Cochran began his political career in the early 1960s, initially serving in various capacities, including as a congressional aide and in the Mississippi State Senate. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972, where he served until his election to the Senate in 1978.

During his time in the Senate, Cochran gained a reputation as a moderate Republican and was known for his work on agricultural issues, defense, and federal spending. He served on several influential committees, including Appropriations and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Cochran was instrumental in securing funding for various projects in Mississippi, contributing to the state's economic development. Cochran chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2003 to 2005 and was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2018.

Between 1979 and 2018, he contributed to seven Farm Bills enacted into law. Cochran’s hands can be seen in so many areas of federal agricultural policy. Specifically, in the Mississippi catfish industry, federal food aid and nutrition programs, agricultural research, and flood control programs. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation honored Cochran in 1990 with its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. Over the years, Cochran received hundreds of other accolades from the agriculture community during his time in Congress.

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 U.S. Representative Jamie L. Whitten. Throughout his career, Cochran was recognized for his bipartisanship and ability to work across party lines. Among his Senate colleagues, Cochran was known as the quiet persuader for his polite manner and knack for consensus building.

He retired in 2018, as the tenth longest serving senator in American history. Cochran passed away on May 30, 2022, at the age of 84. Cochran left behind a legacy of public service and dedication to his constituents in Mississippi.