MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS TO BE GIVEN BY SENATOR THAD COCHRAN

Jackson, MS - Mississippi College School of Law is proud to announce that Senator Thad Cochran will deliver the commencement address on Friday, May 11, 2007. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in downtown Jackson.

            Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Cochran graduated from Byram high school as class valedictorian. He earned his B.A. degree with a major in psychology and a minor in political science from the University of Mississippi. In 1959, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and assigned to duty aboard a heavy cruiser, the USS MACON. He served on the ship for 18 months becoming the ship's legal officer after graduating as an honor student from the U.S. Navy School of Justice in Newport, Rhode Island.

            In the fall of 1961 and upon completion of his two year tour of active duty in the Navy, he enrolled in the School of Law at the University of Mississippi. Cochran won the Frederick Hamel Memorial Award for having the highest scholastic average in the first year class. In 1972, he was elected to the United States Congress for the Fourth District, and in 1978 he was elected to the United States Senate becoming the first Republican in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi.

            He currently serves as Ranking Member of the full Appropriations Committee and the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. He also serves as a member of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and the Rules Committee. His legislative record includes the sponsorship of the National Missile Defense Act of 1999, the Campaign Finance Reform Act, as well as key provisions of several farm bills.      Cochran has been awarded honorary degrees from Kentucky Wesleyan College, Mississippi College, Blue Mountain College, the University of Richmond, and Tougaloo College. He is a Member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. He is a member of Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. He and his wife, the former Rose Clayton of New Albany, Mississippi, have two children and three grandchildren. Families and friends of the graduates are invited to attend.