Thad Cochran

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 (1937-12-07)December 7, 1937 Pontotoc, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	May 30, 2019(2019-05-30) (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
Thad Cochran's voice Thad Cochran opens a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on funding for Gulf Coast recovery after Hurricane Katrina and Wilma Recorded March 8, 2006

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.

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.^[1] He was re-elected to six 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.^[2]

Cochran resigned from the Senate due to health issues in April 2018. Cochran died on May 30, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi.^[3]