HJ836: Celebrating the life of the Honorable George Moffett Cochran.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 836
Celebrating the life of the Honorable George Moffett Cochran.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 11, 2011
Agreed to by the Senate, February 17, 2011

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable George Moffett Cochran, former member of the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate, Virginia Supreme Court Justice, and revered statesman, died on January 22, 2011; and

WHEREAS, a native of Staunton, George Cochran earned an undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Virginia, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Raven Society; and

WHEREAS, a true patriot, George Cochran answered the call to duty and proudly served his country during World War II as a member of the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander; and

WHEREAS, after the war, George Cochran returned to his beloved Staunton and practiced law with his father before becoming one of the founding partners of the law firm of Cochran, Lotz and Black; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of service to his fellow citizens, George Cochran served as an influential member of the House of Delegates from 1948 to 1965 and the Virginia Senate from 1966 to 1968, working to enact key legislation and serving as chair of the Courts of Justice Committee and on the Woodrow Wilson Centennial Commission; and

WHEREAS, during George Cochran?s tenure in the General Assembly, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which was met in the Commonwealth with a campaign of ?massive resistance?; and

WHEREAS, then Governor J. Lindsay Almond, Jr., appointed George Cochran to the newly formed Perrow Commission, which was tasked with finding a solution to the school crisis; and

WHEREAS, George Cochran?s courageous leadership and support of keeping public schools open in the face of massive resistance ultimately helped preserve and protect the Commonwealth?s reputation and public school system; and

WHEREAS, possessed of a keen intellect, strong sense of fairness, and vast knowledge of the law, George Cochran was appointed by Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1969 and served with great distinction and wisdom until his retirement in 1987; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life, George Cochran worked to preserve the history and culture of Staunton, serving as founder and former chair of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, as a trustee of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and as member and trustee of Trinity Episcopal Church; and

WHEREAS, George Cochran served as a member of the board of directors of Planters Bank and Trust Company from 1947 to 1969 and as president of the Bank from 1963 to 1969; he also shared his experience and expertise with numerous other organizations and institutions throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, in 1995 Judge Cochran and his wife, Lee, were honored, as a couple, with the Outstanding Virginian Award for their numerous contributions to the community and Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Judge Cochran brilliantly embodied the ideals of character, leadership, and public service as he served the citizens of the Commonwealth throughout his long and remarkable life; and

WHEREAS, Judge Cochran will be remembered for his exceptional valor, integrity, and devotion to duty and will be greatly missed by his beloved wife of 62 years, Lee Cochran; children, Moffett and Stuart Cochran and their families, including four grandchildren; other relatives and friends; and the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a revered statesman and esteemed citizen of the Commonwealth, the Honorable George Moffett Cochran; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable George Moffett Cochran as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 836
Offered February 9, 2011
Celebrating the life of the Honorable George Moffett Cochran.
Patrons-- Landes, Bell, Richard P. and Cline; Senator: Hanger

WHEREAS, the Honorable George Moffett Cochran, former member of the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate, Virginia Supreme Court Justice, and revered statesman, died on January 22, 2011; and

WHEREAS, a native of Staunton, George Cochran earned an undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Virginia, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Raven Society; and

WHEREAS, a true patriot, George Cochran answered the call to duty and proudly served his country during World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander; and

WHEREAS, after the war, George Cochran returned to his beloved Staunton and practiced law with his father before becoming one of the founding partners of the law firm of Cochran, Lotz and Black; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of service to his fellow citizens, George Cochran served as an influential member of the House of Delegates from 1948 - 1965 and the Virginia Senate from 1966 - 1968, working to enact key legislation and serving as chair of the Courts of Justice Committee and on the Woodrow Wilson Centennial Commission; and

WHEREAS, during George Cochran?s tenure in the General Assembly, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which was met in the Commonwealth with a campaign of ?massive resistance?; and

WHEREAS, then Governor J. Lindsay Almond, Jr., appointed George Cochran to the newly formed Perrow Commission, which was tasked with finding a solution to the school crisis; and

WHEREAS, George Cochran?s courageous leadership and support of keeping public schools open in the face of massive resistance ultimately helped preserve and protect the Commonwealth?s reputation and public school system; and

WHEREAS, possessed of a keen intellect, strong sense of fairness, and vast knowledge of the law, George Cochran was appointed by Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1969 and served with great distinction and wisdom until his retirement in 1987; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life, George Cochran worked to preserve the history and culture of Staunton, serving as founder and former chair of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, as a trustee of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and as member and trustee of Trinity Episcopal Church; and

WHEREAS, George Cochran served as the president of Planters Bank and Trust Co. from 1947 to 1969 and shared his experience and expertise with numerous other organizations and institutions throughout this life; and

WHEREAS, in 1995, Judge Cochran and his wife, Lee, were honored as a couple with the Outstanding Virginian Award for their numerous contributions to the community and Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Judge Cochran brilliantly embodied the ideals of character, leadership, and public service as he served the citizens of the Commonwealth throughout his long and remarkable life; and

WHEREAS, Judge Cochran will be remembered for his uncommon valor, integrity, and devotion to duty and will be greatly missed by his beloved wife of 62 years, Lee Cochran; children, Moffett and Stuart Cochran and their families, including four grandchildren; his other relatives and friends; and the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a revered statesman and esteemed citizen of the Commonwealth, the Honorable George Moffett Cochran; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable George Moffett Cochran as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.