Through federal spending in what has long been one of the poorest states in the nation, Cochran leaves a legacy that’s visible in many ways, including catfish on dinner plates and Navy ships on the seas. The USA Rice Federation said the name was given by employees at Mississippi State University’s Agricultural and Forestry Experimentation Station. During his final election in 2014, Cochran faced harsh criticism from Republican primary challenger Chris McDaniel, a state senator with tea party support. The current president of Delta State University, Bill LaForge, worked as legislative counsel and chief of staff for Cochran. The current president of Mississippi State University, Mark E. Keenum, worked for Cochran for 18 years, with 10 of those as the senator’s chief of staff.

Source: thestar June 01, 2019 14:15 UTC