See if you can spot a trend in the naming of all these Mississippi institutions. Look closely and take your time; if you don’t notice it at first, just try re-reading the list again:
1. Thad Cochran Center at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
2. Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville
3. Thad Cochran United States Courthouse, Jackson
4. Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center
5. Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, Starkville
6. Thad Cochran Agricultural Leadership Program, MSU Extension Service
7. Thad Cochran Research Center West Wing, Ole Miss Pharmacy School, Jackson
8. Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Research Laboratory, Poplarville
9. Thad Cochran Center for Rural School Leadership and Research, Delta State University, Cleveland
10. Thad & Rose Cochran Hall, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus
11. Thad Cochran U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse, Aberdeen
12. Thad Cochran Distinguished K-2 Visual Arts Educator (and five other similarly named awards), Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education
Yes, super sleuths, you have discovered that all of these are named after our recently retired U.S. senator. Well done.
This has been a sticking point for me since a former Mississippi newspaper editor, who was an admirer of Cochran’s, pointed it out a few years ago. It came to mind again after the renaming this month of the federal courthouse in Jackson after Cochran.
First let me say I respect Cochran a lot. The Republican conducted himself with integrity throughout his 40 years in the Senate, never used race as a way to boost his political chances, something conservative politicians from Mississippi before and after him have struggled to avoid, and helped bring untold millions of dollars for important programs to the poorest state in the Union.
That’s why it’s so unusual that someone nicknamed the “Quiet Persuader,” who generally avoided the limelight, would accept all these honors. Perhaps it was a political strategy: Every time someone looked at those institutions they were both: 1. Reminded of him as a senator, in essence a free political ad; and 2. Reminded of how much power he held, thus discouraging the thought of running against him. That seemed to work, as Cochran never faced a serious challenge after he was initially elected in 1978 until the infamous 2014 race against Chris McDaniel, which would be his last.
Or maybe it’s human nature to seek something to be remembered by after we’re gone.
And perhaps the recipients of federal dollars diverted to them by Cochran — who held vast sway over spending through his longtime spot on the Senate Appropriations Committee — made the choice on their own to name it after him as a way to curry future favors.
Yet after a while, could not have Cochran said, “Listen, guys, I appreciate the gesture, and it’s a great honor that you want to name your building/award/highway/school pet/signature sandwich after me, but I’ve already been recognized so many times it would be nice to shine the spotlight on someone else. If you’d like, here’s a list of distinguished Mississippians I think would be worthy.”
Why he didn’t is the one question mark I have about Cochran’s legacy with in Mississippi history.
Contact C-P Editor and Publisher Charlie Smith at (601) 736-2611 or csmith@columbianprogress.com.
