Thomas Derrell Cockrell

Background

Thomas Derrell Cockrell was born on August 26, 1949 in Mississippi, United States. Son of Bobby (a machinist) and Edna Earle (Chambers) Cockrell.

Education

Cockrell graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in 1971, with a M.A. in 1981, and with a Ph.D. in 1989.

Career

Cockrell served as a police officer for Louisville Police Department, Louisville from 1971 till 1978. Then he worked as a high school social studies teacher in Mississippi in 1974-1975. He also was an activities director at a Methodist church, Philadelphia, between 1976 and 1977. From 1978 till 1979 he was a salesperson at Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance Co., Winston County.

From 1979 till 1989 he was a firefighter at Louisville Fire Department. In 1989-1990 he was a librarian, archivist and assistant professor of history and political science at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Then Cockrell worked as a lecturer in history at Mississippi State University in 1990-1992. Since 1992 he was an associate professor of history and head of social science at Blue Mountain College, Blue Mountain. From 1983 till 1987 he worked as an instructor at East Mississippi Community College.

Achievements

• Cockrell won the 1984 Mississippi Press Association Award for a series of stories. He also won the Working for Academic Excellence Award from Mississippi Legislature between 1994 and 1995.

Works

More photos

• book

  • A Mississippi Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia: The Civil War Memoirs of Private David Holt
  • Chickasaw, a Mississippi Scout for the Union: The Civil War Memoir of Levi H. Naron, as Recounted by R. W. Surby

• Other Work

  • The descendants of William Jasper Cockrell and Martha Ann Crowson

Religion

He is an adherent to United Methodist Church.

Politics

Thomas's political views are described as Independent.

Views

Quotations: "My Primary motivation for writing is sheer interest in the subject matter as it relates to my field of study. History fascinates me. As I attempt to relate life today with the lives of those who lived before us, it becomes apparent that we are not so different. We have the same basic problems and needs, and we are affected by acts both directly and indirectly related to Us- By analyzing how others coped with life, we have a better understanding of how we may cope as well."

Membership

Thomas has been a member of Southern Historical Association, Mississippi Historical Society, Tippah County Historical Society (member of executive board, since 1996), Phi Alpha Theta.

Personality

Thomas is self-motivated; however, in the academic field one is challenged to publish. As a student of his mentor Joseph F. Marszalek, Jr., Cockrell was challenged to do my very best in graduate school. Marszalek's influence, along with that of other professors and scholars, encouraged him to go beyond teaching and explore the fascinating world of writing.

Interests

• Using a metal detector to search for historical relics.

Connections

Cockrell married Rhonda Suzette Latch (a pharmacy technician) on May 29, 1993.

Father:

Bobby Cockrell

Mother:

Edna Earle (Chambers) Cockrell

Wife:

Rhonda Suzette Latch