CPB statement on the passing of Senator Thad Cochran

June 5, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 5, 2019) -- Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement regarding the passing of Senator Thad Cochran.

“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public media family across the country join in expressing our sorrow over the passing of Senator Thad Cochran.

Senator Cochran was a longtime supporter of public media and a true advocate for access to early education. Throughout his decades of public service, Senator Cochran’s love and support for Mississippi Public Broadcasting helped secure quality educational programming for Mississippians and our nation’s youngest learners.

As a lead co-sponsor and creator of the Ready To Learn program, Senator Cochran helped prepare millions of young children for school, especially those in low-income communities, through educational programming, such as Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s "Between the Lions," books, and hands-on workshops.

In 2000, CPB awarded Senator Cochran the distinguished Lowell Award, public television’s highest award, for his outstanding individual contributions to public broadcasting. Other past recipients include Julia Child, Newton N. Minow, Walter H. Annenberg, former Senator Barry M. Goldwater, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, and Fred Rogers.

We extend our condolences to the family, friends, and all those impacted by the life and legacy of Senator Thad Cochran.”

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmediaFacebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for other updates.