Harwood Cochrane was of humble beginnings. A son of John and Wilantina (Knibb) Cochrane, he was born in Goochland County, VA into a large family. The young man quit school at age 16 and worked odd jobs before starting at Virginia Dairy. He worked there for several years delivering milk via horse and wagon. The family had moved to Richmond shortly before his father, a farmer, died in 1930.

He married Miss Louise Odell Blanks, from Halifax, on 31 Mar 1934 in Richmond, VA. The next year, he founded Overnite Transportation and over the years built it into an impressive and very successful trucking empire. After he sold it to Union Pacific in 1986, he stayed on with the company as chairman until 1990. The following year, he founded another trucking line, Highway Express and sold that company in 2003. Mr. Cochrane left an indelible mark on the trucking industry in this country.

Mr. and Mrs. Cochrane's generosity benefitted multitudes. Their home in Rockville, "Walnut Hill," and surrounding property, were donated to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to further endow its Fund for American Art. They were exceptional patrons of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, as well, among many other worthy causes. Being long-time members of Baptist Tabernacle Church, they also were big supporters of Baptist Theological Seminary and the International Mission Board.

The Rockville community where the Cochranes lived for over 50 years should long remember their many contributions to the area, which enabled to construction of the Community Center, the Rockville Market, the library, post office and the Missionary Learning Center.

Mr. Cochrane and his wife were married for over 81 years at her death just last year at age 99. They had four children; two daughters predeceased him, Treena Louise Cochrane and Suzanne Hope Cochrane Austell Martin. In addition, a granddaughter, Elizabeth McKenney, predeceased him. Surviving are a daughter, a son, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Harwood Cochrane was of humble beginnings. A son of John and Wilantina (Knibb) Cochrane, he was born in Goochland County, VA into a large family. The young man quit school at age 16 and worked odd jobs before starting at Virginia Dairy. He worked there for several years delivering milk via horse and wagon. The family had moved to Richmond shortly before his father, a farmer, died in 1930.

He married Miss Louise Odell Blanks, from Halifax, on 31 Mar 1934 in Richmond, VA. The next year, he founded Overnite Transportation and over the years built it into an impressive and very successful trucking empire. After he sold it to Union Pacific in 1986, he stayed on with the company as chairman until 1990. The following year, he founded another trucking line, Highway Express and sold that company in 2003. Mr. Cochrane left an indelible mark on the trucking industry in this country.

Mr. and Mrs. Cochrane's generosity benefitted multitudes. Their home in Rockville, "Walnut Hill," and surrounding property, were donated to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to further endow its Fund for American Art. They were exceptional patrons of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, as well, among many other worthy causes. Being long-time members of Baptist Tabernacle Church, they also were big supporters of Baptist Theological Seminary and the International Mission Board.

The Rockville community where the Cochranes lived for over 50 years should long remember their many contributions to the area, which enabled to construction of the Community Center, the Rockville Market, the library, post office and the Missionary Learning Center.

Mr. Cochrane and his wife were married for over 81 years at her death just last year at age 99. They had four children; two daughters predeceased him, Treena Louise Cochrane and Suzanne Hope Cochrane Austell Martin. In addition, a granddaughter, Elizabeth McKenney, predeceased him. Surviving are a daughter, a son, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.