U.S. General Services Administration
Former Senator Thad Cochran honored at courthouse naming ceremony
ATLANTA—More than 300 guests gathered on the steps of the U.S. Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, today for a special ceremony to formally name the building in honor of retired Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran.
Joined by his family, Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and federal judges from the Southern District of Mississippi, Senator Cochran kicked off the celebration by unveiling the new sign adorning the now-designated Thad Cochran U.S. Courthouse.
“The people of Mississippi gave me the privilege of representing them in Washington. As a United States senator, I took seriously my responsibilities to the federal judiciary and its role in the lives of the people,” Senator Cochran said. “I am humbled by and appreciate this honor.”
Completed in 2010, the 392,000-square-foot courthouse serves as home for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi as well as other federal court offices. In March, Congress approved naming the facility to honor Senator Cochran’s legacy of public service.
“Thad Cochran had a hand in selecting every Article III judge now serving in Mississippi and championed the construction of this courthouse,” said Chief Judge Daniel P. Jordan III of the Southern District of Mississippi. “Naming it for him is a fitting tribute.”
“Senator Cochran served the citizens of Mississippi for over 40 years in the U.S. Capitol,” said Michael Gelber, deputy commissioner of the U.S. General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service. “Naming this courthouse after him is the proper way to honor his service to the people of this state and the nation.”
Following the unveiling of the sign, guests gathered in the courthouse rotunda to hear speakers share stories of their experiences with Senator Cochran and to express their appreciation for his work. Senator Wicker provided the keynote address during the program with additional comments from Fifth Circuit Judge E. Grady Jolly.
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