Summary
COCHRAN, William Thad, a Senator and a Representative from Mississippi; born in Pontotoc,
Pontotoc County, Miss., December 7, 1937; educated in the public schools of
Mississippi; graduated, University of Mississippi, Oxford 1959 and the
University of Mississippi Law School 1965; studied international law and
jurisprudence at Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland 1963-1964;
served in the United States Navy 1959-1961; admitted to the Mississippi bar in
1965 and commenced practice in Jackson; elected as a Republican to the
Ninety-third Congress in 1972; reelected to the Ninety-fourth and Ninety-fifth
Congresses and served from January 3, 1973, until his resignation on December
26, 1978; was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives,
but was elected in 1978 to the United States Senate for the term commencing
January 3, 1979; subsequently appointed by the Governor, December 27, 1978, to
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James O. Eastland for the term
ending January 3, 1979; reelected in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and again in 2008
for the term ending January 3, 2015; chair, Senate Republican Conference
(1991-97), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (One Hundred
Eighth Congress); Committee on Appropriations (One Hundred Ninth Congress).