Subseries D: Bill Cochran

Biographical / historical:

William Neal "Bill" Cochran (1937-2024) was a journalist who focused on the outdoors, writing for The Roanoke Times from 1962 until 2018–two (2) decades after retiring as the newspaper's outdoors editor in 1998. His coverage included many trail hikes with the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, conservation issues in Virginia, and outdoor sporting and the Appalachian Trail. Cochran received 10 awards from the Virginia Press Association, was honored by the Virginia General Assembly with the House Joint Resolution 520 "Commending Bill Cochran" in 1999, and was the 2009 media inductee in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Cochran graduated from Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg) with a bachelor's degree in English in 1960, and he served in the Virginia National Guard. He married Katherine Gravett in 1965, and they had a son. They operated the Cross Trails Bed and Breakfast near the Appalachian Trail in Catawba from 1995 to 2003 as well as a Christmas tree farm in West Virginia.

Sources:

Mark Taylor, "Legendary Roanoke outdoors writer Bill Cochran dies," Cardinal News, July 1, 2024, https://cardinalnews.org/2024/07/01/legendary-roanoke-outdoors-writer-bill-cochran-dies/, accessed September 19, 2025.

Obituary for William N. "Bill" Cochran, The Roanoke Times, July 7, 2024, available online from Legacy.com, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/roanoke/name/william-cochran-obituary?id=55481593, accessed September 19, 2025.

Mark Berman, "Bill Cochran | 1937-2024: Outdoors editor was 'an institution'," The Roanoke Times, July 2, 2024, p. A1 and A6, accessed online from NewsBank on September 19, 2025.

"Bill Cochran," Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, https://vasportshof.com/inductee/bill-cochran/, accessed September 19, 2025.

"Virginia HJ520 Commending Bill Cochran," Policy Engage, https://trackbill.com/bill/virginia-house-joint-resolution-520-commending-bill-cochran/512861/, accessed September 19, 2025.

"William Neal Cochran" in the Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/9279/records/12779996, accessed September 19, 2025.

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Parent restrictions:
The collection is open for research, except Box 22 which contains restricted materials. Restricted folders are identified within the inventory. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.
Parent terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Contents