George M. Cochran

George M. Cochran
Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
In office October 1, 1969 – April 20, 1987
Preceded by	John W. Eggleston
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 19th district
In office January 12, 1966 – 1968
Preceded by	Curry Carter
Succeeded by	H. Dunlop Dawbarn
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 10th or Staunton district
In office 1948–1965
Personal details
Born	April 20, 1912 Staunton, Virginia, U.S.
Died	January 22, 2011 Staunton, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Marion Lee Stuart
Children	Stuart Cochran, G. Moffett Cochran
Alma mater	University of Virginia University of Virginia Law School
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Episcopalian
Military service
Service/branch	U.S. Navy
Years of service	1942-1946
Rank	Lieutenant Commander

George Moffett Cochran IV (April 20, 1912 - January 22, 2011) was a Virginia lawyer, banker and legislator who later served as a justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. Cochran served part-time representing Staunton, Virginia in the Virginia General Assembly for nearly two decades, first as a delegate, then briefly as state senator. His opposition to the Byrd Organization's policy of Massive Resistance helped integrate Virginia's schools.

Born in Staunton, George was the first born child of Peyton Cochran and his wife Susie Baldwin Robertson, both of prominent local families. On his mother's side, Cochran was descended from Alexander H.H. Stuart, a U.S. Congressman before the American Civil War who also helped organize the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Millard Fillmore. A.H.H. Stuart later helped negotiate the end of restrictions upon Confederate sympathizers as Reconstruction ended. Cochran's paternal grandfather of the same name served in the Confederate army as a quartermaster and other administrative positions, disappointed that poor eyesight disqualified him from the artillery position he wanted.

Young George Cochran had a sister four years his junior and a brother a decade younger than himself, although he outlived them both. He attended Staunton's schools including Robert E. Lee High school, then Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. After graduating, Cochran began studying law at the University of Virginia, as had his father and grandfather. At the University of Virginia, he was a member of the Z Society and Beta Theta Pi; he resided on The Lawn. Cochran received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934 and a LL.B. degree in 1936 from the University of Virginia Law School. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Raven Society as an alumnus.

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