Robert Leroy Cochran

Robert LeRoy "Roy" Cochran (January 28, 1886 – February 23, 1963) was a Nebraska Democratic politician and the 24th Governor of Nebraska.

Roy Cochran
24th Governor of Nebraska
In office January 3, 1935 – January 9, 1941
Lieutenant	Walter H. Jurgensen Nate M. Parsons William E. Johnson
Preceded by	Charles W. Bryan
Succeeded by	Dwight Griswold
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office September 14, 1937 – June 26, 1939
Preceded by	George C. Peery
Succeeded by	Lloyd C. Stark
Personal details
Born	January 28, 1886 Avoca, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	February 23, 1963 (aged 77) Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Nebraska, Lincoln (BS)

Cochran was born in Avoca, Nebraska and began his education in a sod school house. After graduating from Brady High school, he worked his way through and received a civil engineering degree from the University of Nebraska in 1910.[1] First working for the County Surveyor, he was hired as a surveyor by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. In 1912 he was elected County Surveyor and served in that position until 1916. During World War I, he served two years in the Army Artillery Corps and was discharged with the rank of captain in 1919. He was married to Aileen Gant on March 15, 1919 and the couple had two children, Robert Leroy Jr and Mary Aileen.[2]

Career

Cochran ran for governor of Nebraska and won in 1934, defeating the Republican candidate, Dwight Griswold, by 17,388 votes (50,8% to 47.7%). He was re-elected in 1936, again defeating Griswold, this time by 55.9% to 43.1%. In 1938 he was elected for a third term as governor, defeating the Republican candidate, Charles J. Warner, by 44% to 40.6%; a third candidate, Charles W. Bryan, received 15.4% of the vote. This made him the first governor to serve three consecutive terms.[3] In 1940 he ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska senator, unseating incumbent Edward R. Burke in the Democratic primary, but losing the general election to Hugh Butler by 57% to 41.5%.

Cochran served as a colonel in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1941 to 1942 at Camp Leonard Wood, Missouri. He became Assistant Commissioner of the Federal Public Housing Authority from 1942 to 1943, and Commissioner from 1943 to 1944. He served as Deputy Commissioner of the American Mission for Aid to Greece.[4] He retired from public life in 1956.

Death and legacy

Cochran died on February 23, 1963 and is interred at Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln, Nebraska.[5] He was a member of the Episcopal Church, a Freemason, Knight Templar, Shriner, and member of Alpha Tau Omega.

References

1. "Robert Leroy Cochran" (PDF). Nebraska History.org. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
2. "Robert Leroy Cochran" (PDF). Nebraska History.org. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
3. Robert Leroy Cochran. Encyclopedia of Nebraska. January 1, 1999. ISBN 9780403098347. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
4. Robert Leroy Cochran. Encyclopedia of Nebraska. January 1, 1999. ISBN 9780403098347. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
5. "Robert Leroy Cochran". Find A Grave. Retrieved September 24, 2012.

External links

• "Cochran, Robert LeRoy". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 6, 2006.
• Encyclopedia of Nebraska
• National Governors Association
• Nebraska History.org

Further reading

Grimes, Mary Cochran, Aileen and Roy: From Sod House to State House (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2010).