State and local leaders said Monday they would miss Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., just hours after he announced he would leave the U.S. Senate on April 1 because of health reasons.

“Sen. Cochran has been so good to the State of Mississippi and to our area and to this administration, and we’re going to greatly miss him and his leadership in Washington,” Meridian Mayor Percy Bland said.

According to Cochran’s biography, he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972, where he served three terms. He was elected to the Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican in more than a century to win a statewide election in Mississippi. 

Among his many noteworthy accomplishments was his service as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where he worked to “ensure that the U.S. Armed Forces remain the best trained and equipped in the world, including support for the Navy’s shipbuilding programs and the military bases and installations in Mississippi.”

Mississippi House Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden reflected on those accomplishments.

“He’s been a great senator as far as I’m concerned,” Snowden said. “We had a lot that Sen. Cochran has helped us with… He was always one to stand strong for the Meridian Naval Air Station.

“… I think he’s provided leadership in a genteel and dignified way that I think many people still appreciate. People always respected him and there’s a lot to say for that.”

Cochran also served on the Senate National Security Working Group, the Board of Visitors of the Air Force Academy, the Board at the Military Academy at West Point as chairman and the Board of Visitors at the U.S. Naval Academy. 

In 2005, Cochran led the effort to provide more than $87 billion in supplemental federal assistance to Mississippi and Gulf Coast states affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Tyler Norman, Republican Party chairman for Lauderdale County, vividly remembers Cochran’s contributions in the aftermath of Katrina.

“It’s a sad day in Mississippi,” Norman said. “Sen. Cochran has served this state and our nation honorably since 1972… He’s not just a senator, he’s a statesman… After Katrina, we would have had a harder time if not for Thad Cochran. We’re really going to miss him and his influence in Washington.”

On Monday, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant tweeted, “Today, one of Mississippi’s greatest public servants shared with me his plans to retire. [Cochran’s] service ushered in an era of unprecedented influence for our state and will benefit generations to come. He was a leader in Washington and a powerful advocate for every Mississippian. I will always be grateful to Sen. Cochran for his friendship and support during my time of service. Deborah and I wish him and Kay the very best as they begin this new chapter.”

In a statement, Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann wrote: “There are no words to describe how important Senator Cochran, a true gentleman and statesman, has been to Mississippi. While he leaves a lasting legacy in agriculture, defense, and Hurricane Katrina recovery, and a huge gap in Senate and national leadership, the citizens of Mississippi experience the largest vacuum in the loss of his public presence and influence on almost every aspect of our personal and political lives. Lynn and I wish him and his family the best in his retirement and welcome him home. Job well done.”