In January of 2009, when Bill Cochran left the Indiana House, I was 48 years old. He had been my state representative since I was a sophomore in high school. Ed Clere, his successor by the narrowest of margins, was just eight months old when Cochran took office in 1975.
For local Democrats, Cochran has proven to be irreplaceable. Since 2010, they’re run five different candidates against Clere, sans discernible traction. Up, down or sideways, 34 years is nothing to sneeze at, and we’ll probably not see the likes of him again, maybe from either party.
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Bill Cochran, former state representative, dies, by Chris Morris (New Albany Coverage as a Last Resort)
Represented District 72 for 34 years
NEW ALBANY — William C. Cochran, a New Albany native who served 34 years as a state representative, died early Thursday morning after a sudden illness, according to Floyd County Democratic Party Chairman Adam Dickey. He was 84.
Cochran was active in local politics most of his life. He was a 1952 graduate of New Albany High School and is a member of the school’s hall of fame.
Cochran served District 72 during his three-plus decades in the state Legislature, and helped secure funding for the development of the Indiana University Southeast campus. He received a Distinguished Service Medal from IUS.