Mississippians are paying their last respects to former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. Mourners gathered at a visitation in Oxford yesterday. MPB’s Jasmine Ellis reports.
Mississippians are gathering to remember the life of former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran at the University of Mississippi. A flag draped coffin along with a portrait of Sen. Cochran is sitting in the middle of the law center. The seven-term senator died on Thursday at age 81. Cochran, an Ole Miss alum, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a law degree from the institution. Robert Khayat is former chancellor and classmate of Cochran.
“He is a wonderful model for public service,” said Khayat. “He had plenty of ego. He knew he was smart. And he knew that he knew how to do business. But he never exceeded the bounds of appropriate behavior.”
Cochran was elected to the United States Senate in 1978. He served as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and of the powerful Appropriations Committee. Doris Wagley was Cochran’s personal secretary.
“It was such a pleasure and such an adventure,” said Wagley. “When I started with him day one in the House and I finished up with him in the Senate, when he resigned from the Senate, I knew right away that he was really smart and really kind. And he really liked being in public service.”
A service for Cochran will be held today at the State Capitol in Jackson.
