HR517: Commending J. Harwood Cochrane.


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 517
Commending J. Harwood Cochrane.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 27, 2012

 

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane, a titan of the trucking industry who participated in the skillful crafting of the Commonwealth?s Right to Work law and who has enriched the lives of countless Virginians with his thoughtful philanthropy, will celebrate his 100th birthday on November 16, 2012; and

WHEREAS, a longtime resident of Rockville, J. Harwood Cochrane evidenced as a young man the enterprising spirit that would drive his career as he formed one of the nation?s leading interstate trucking companies, Overnite Transportation Company, at the age of 23; and

WHEREAS, an innovative and savvy businessman, J. Harwood Cochrane began the company with a used truck during the Great Depression; he grew and expanded the company over the years, acquiring other carriers and implementing efficiency and cost-savings measures that helped the company thrive in a competitive environment, eventually employing over 14,000 employees; and

WHEREAS, in 1986 J. Harwood Cochrane made history as he sold Overnite Transportation Company to Union Pacific Corp. for $1.2 billion?the largest amount ever paid for a trucking company; and

WHEREAS, at the age of 78, J. Harwood Cochrane founded another trucking company, Highway Express, which he successfully operated for 13 years until its sale to the Celadon Group of Indianapolis; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane earned numerous awards and accolades over the course of his illustrious career, including election into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1991 and recognition by Financial World magazine as the 1989 CEO of the Decade Bronze Award winner and 1985 CEO of the Year Bronze Award finalist; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane?s demonstrated mastery of the free enterprise system and growth of a successful nonunion trucking company led to his appointment by Governor William M. Tuck to a committee of eight, which was tasked with drafting Virginia?s Right to Work law; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane?s thoughtful advice and guidance helped forge a law that serves as a model for other states and that continues to play an important role in bringing businesses and jobs to the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, a respected community and industry leader, J. Harwood Cochrane served on the boards of the American Trucking Associations, Virginia Highway Users Association, SunTrust Bank, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and Virginia Port Authority; and

WHEREAS, a Virginia gentleman true to his roots, J. Harwood Cochrane settled in Rockville in Hanover County, where he also raised Angus cattle while generously supporting the local community with the operation of the Rockville Grocery and construction and donation of the Rockville Post Office and Rockville Branch Library; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane also donated land in Rockville for the construction of the Baptist Missionary Learning Center and has been a generous benefactor of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane?s philanthropic endeavors have benefited a wide range of organizations, including the University of Richmond, Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Union University, Science Museum of Virginia, American Red Cross, Virginia Opera, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Westminster Canterbury, and local public television; and

WHEREAS, a model citizen, J. Harwood Cochrane has touched the lives of countless individuals through his visionary and compassionate philanthropy; and

WHEREAS, from a young business owner during the Great Depression to a trucking magnate whose influence has extended across the state and nation, J. Harwood Cochrane has built an extraordinary life and legacy marked by hard work, determination, and amazing generosity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That an outstanding Virginian, J. Harwood Cochrane, hereby be commended on the occasion of his 100th birthday; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to J. Harwood Cochrane as an expression of the House of Delegates? congratulations and respect for his many achievements and contributions to the Commonwealth.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 517
Offered March 27, 2012
Commending J. Harwood Cochrane.
Patron-- Cox, J.A.

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane, a titan of the trucking industry who participated in the skillful crafting of the Commonwealth?s Right to Work law and who has enriched the lives of countless Virginians with his thoughtful philanthropy, will celebrate his 100th birthday on November 16, 2012; and

WHEREAS, a longtime resident of Rockville, J. Harwood Cochrane evidenced as a young man the enterprising spirit that would drive his career as he formed one of the nation?s leading interstate trucking companies, Overnite Transportation Company, at the age of 23; and

WHEREAS, an innovative and savvy businessman, J. Harwood Cochrane began the company with a used truck during the Great Depression; he grew and expanded the company over the years, acquiring other carriers and implementing efficiency and cost-savings measures that helped the company thrive in a competitive environment, eventually employing over 14,000 employees; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, J. Harwood Cochrane made history as he sold Overnite Transportation Company to Union Pacific Corp. for $1.2 billion?the largest amount ever paid for a trucking company; and

WHEREAS, at the age of 78, J. Harwood Cochrane founded another trucking company, Highway Express, which he successfully operated for 13 years until its sale to the Celadon Group of Indianapolis; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane earned numerous awards and accolades over the course of his illustrious career, including election into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1991 and recognition by Financial World magazine as the 1989 CEO of the Decade Bronze Award winner and 1985 CEO of the Year Bronze Award finalist; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane?s demonstrated mastery of the free enterprise system and growth of a successful nonunion trucking company led to his appointment by Governor William M. Tuck to a committee of eight, which was tasked with drafting Virginia?s Right to Work law; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane?s thoughtful advice and guidance helped forge a law that serves as a model for other states and that continues to play an important role in bringing businesses and jobs to the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, a respected community and industry leader, J. Harwood Cochrane served on the boards of the American Trucking Associations, Virginia Highway Users Association, SunTrust Bank, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and Virginia Port Authority; and

WHEREAS, a Virginia gentleman true to his roots, J. Harwood Cochrane settled in Rockville in Hanover County, where he also raised Angus cattle while generously supporting the local community with the operation of the Rockville Grocery and construction and donation of the Rockville Post Office and Rockville Branch Library; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane also donated land in Rockville for the construction of the Baptist Missionary Learning Center and has been a generous benefactor of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; and

WHEREAS, J. Harwood Cochrane?s philanthropic endeavors have benefited a wide range of organizations, including the University of Richmond, Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Union University, Science Museum of Virginia, American Red Cross, Virginia Opera, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Westminster Canterbury, and local public television; and

WHEREAS, a model citizen, J. Harwood Cochrane has touched the lives of countless individuals through his visionary and compassionate philanthropy; and

WHEREAS, from a young business owner during the Great Depression to a trucking magnate whose influence has extended across the state and nation, J. Harwood Cochrane has built an extraordinary life and legacy marked by hard work, determination, and amazing generosity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That an outstanding Virginian, J. Harwood Cochrane, hereby be commended on the occasion of his 100th birthday; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to J. Harwood Cochrane as an expression of the House of Delegates? congratulations and respect for his many achievements and contributions to the Commonwealth.