Senator Thad Cochran
May 30, 2019
Thad Cochran, former senator of Mississippi, passed away early this morning at the age of 81 in Oxford, Mississippi. Cochran was first elected to the Senate in 1978, the first Republican to win statewide election there in more than 100 years, and served until his resignation in April 2018 due to health concerns. Senator Cochran was an enduring champion for the rice industry during his tenure, and his advocacy and contributions to the American farmer will be remembered for years to come.
“Throughout his years of service, Senator Cochran was a strong advocate for rural America, especially U.S. agriculture, and the rice industry will always be totally indebted to his leadership,” said Travis Satterfield, a rice farmer and constituent of the Senator’s, and a former president of the Delta Council. “Above all, Senator Cochran was a kind and loving gentleman who respected everyone and listened to your concerns. He was a person who never sought division but continually sought common ground. Simply, he was a leader in the greatest generation. We will miss his leadership and counsel.”
The Senator served on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee from his first day on the job, and throughout his career influenced and helped pass seven Farm Bills. Cochran also served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations from 2005-2006 and from 2015 until his retirement. Whether acting as chairman or ranking member of this powerful committee, Cochran always sought sensible solutions to advance the agriculture industry and rural America.
“No one stood taller in supporting agriculture during his 45 years of service in Congress than Thad Cochran,” said Frank Howell, executive vice president of the Delta Council. “Specifically, he was able to make substantial contributions to agricultural policy and research in Southern crops such as rice, cotton, and aquaculture because he knew their importance to the local economy as well as the nation and the world. He achieved so many positive outcomes, not only because he understood the issues and their importance to the people he represented, but also because he had a personality and gentleman-like manner that allowed him to build coalitions with other Members from other parts of the country.”
The Senator is such a respected figure among rice circles that he has a variety of rice named after him. Mississippi State University’s Agricultural and Forestry Experimentation Station showed their appreciation by dubbing a new variety “Thad” in his honor. The rice industry owes him a debt of gratitude for championing rice farmers in his home state as well as national agriculture interests.
He was known by Senate colleagues for his quiet, gentle demeanor, and was dubbed the “quiet persuader” by Time Magazine in 2006. To his constituents he was a man of the people who always worked to serve Mississippi and his nation with diligence and honor. He left behind a legacy of conservation, advocacy for agriculture, and common sense bipartisanship.
“I had the pleasure of working for Senator Cochran when he was the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. “A statesman and humanitarian, he was truly dedicated to helping people. Senator Cochran worked tirelessly in pursuit of government assistance to improve the lives of not only Mississippians, but also those from all walks of life and anywhere in the world. It only took me a minute to meet him, an hour to appreciate him, and a day to love him, but it will take more than a lifetime to forget him. I am very fortunate to have known him and learned from him, and the rice industry will be forever thankful to have had such a champion for farmers in the U.S. Senate.”