Thomas Leon "Bull" Cochran

1924 - 2010

Thomas Leon "Bull" Cochran, age 85, born April 13, 1924, passed on Jan. 19, 2010.
Bull Cochran was a native of Birmingham, Ala., and served his country in World War II in the Naval Amphibious Force and was in 11 invasions. He received a certificate award for the Aleutian Islands Battle. Bull was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Auburn University. He played football at Auburn University, and NFL with the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. He worked as a superintendent of the Masonic Home in Montgomery, Ala. Bull was a Mason and a member of the Shrine. He was the State and County License Inspector at the Capital in Montgomery under Gov. George Wallace's administration. Bull retired to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1969.
Bull lettered in football at Auburn University, was an All American in the National Football Association Hall of Fame, voted most valuable player with the Washington Redskins when they played against the New York Giants. He was a recipient of the Col. Al Byrne Award in 2001 at the All Sports Association Banquet and received a plaque at the All American Football Foundation Banquet. Bull loved his Lord God and was a very religious man, and kind to everyone. He loved his family, always being a loving father, husband and grandfather. Bull really loved the game of football his entire life, always wishing he could have played it many more years than he did.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Marilyn Sheffield Cochran of Fort Walton Beach; daughters, Claire Bern and her husband Larry Bern of Montgomery, and Marilyn Ming and her husband Bruce Ming of Destin, Fla.; son, Joe Cochran and his wife Gail of Dallas; eight grandchildren, Thomas Ming and his wife Amy of Pensacola, Fla., Allison Ming Jones and her husband Jeff of Destin, Lara Bern Knight and her husband Jonathan of Montgomery, Elizabeth Bern Spear and her husband Brad of Montgomery, Eric Bern of Montgomery, Jonathan Cochran , Shelly Cochran and Emily Cochran of Dallas; and two great-grandchildren, Sidney Spear of Montgomery, and Skyler Mae Jones of Destin.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. at St. Simon's Episcopal Church on Highway 98 in Fort Walton Beach, with a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following. Arrangements will be announced in the paper at a later date.
The family would like to express a special love and thank you to the dedicated staff at Parthenon Healthcare of Fort Walton for their loving care and concern while Bull was there. Thank you for loving care from Hospice, too.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Simon's Episcopal Church in his memory for their youth program; or to a charity of your choice.
Private inurnment will take place at the Destin Cemetery at a later date.