Each day at the crack of dawn, John Cochran ('87) started his college days as a school bus driver before going to interior design classes and his position as a civil engineering draftsman.

"I'd get up at five in the morning and go get the bus warmed up," Cochran says. "Then I'd go pick up the kids and take them back home in the afternoon."

Throughout college, Cochran set himself up for success by packing his schedule tight.

In nearly four decades since graduating from the College of Visual Arts and Design, he hasn't skipped a beat -- refusing to retire and remaining busy from dawn 'til dusk.

In 1992, Cochran founded what's become a very successful business -- CDA Design -- spending the last few decades designing an empire of country clubs across the country.

"Suddenly, I'm 62 and flying all over," Cochran says. "Now we're 300 plus clubs."

Piling onto his plate in addition to his duties as CDA president and owner of Tipton Family Ranch in Stephens County, Cochran plans to start a construction company -- somehow managing time for acting, his family and giving back to the Fort Worth community as a lifelong resident.

Bright and Early

When Cochran enrolled at UNT in the early 1980s, mornings started at dawn with football practice.

Playing football throughout his youth -- at Southwest High School and coming to UNT as a student athlete -- Cochran served as a guard during his freshman year, but left the team to focus on academics, work and extracurriculars.

Undecided on a major, Cochran put off choosing until finishing his pre-req courses. Once it couldn't be delayed any further, he turned to his mother, Julie Cochran ('77 M.Ed.), for guidance.

Julie was an English teacher at Southwest before becoming the school's lead counselor -- going back to school in the 1970s to earn her master's degree in counseling from the College of Education -- and remained highly dedicated to her profession until retiring in 2000.

"She would give tests to students to lead them in the right direction," Cochran says. "Every time she tested me, I was always in the arts."

Following his mother's guidance, Cochran began exploring the world of interior design -- taking a course in the field over the summer and returning in the fall with a newfound love.

After leaving football, mornings and evenings previously spent in practice were replaced with responsibilities as a full-time student, various drafting internships, president of Kappa Sigma and vice president of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Cochran was commuting in a 1972 Chevrolet pickup -- a gift from his late grandfather. Quickly, the truck became "its own pledge brother."

"Every time we'd go somewhere, there'd be three of us in the front and the rest in the back," Cochran says. "I wish I still had it. It had a lot of memories."

Building a Business

Fresh out of college, Cochran began working as a draftsman for a residential interior design studio. He remained there for five years until remembering advice he received from his former professor and mentor, John Olvera.

"He taught you the profession, if you had the wherewithal to put a shingle out and start your own company," Cochran says. "And that's what I did."

With a major in interior design and a minor in construction technology, Cochran had the ambition and necessary skills to start his own commercial development and design firm.

"I didn't want to do residential design, but that was the job market at the time," Cochran says. "I thought to myself, 'What's a transition between residential and commercial?' and went in the direction of country clubs. They're essentially big houses, but with commercial specifications."

Within a decade of receiving his degree and founding his business, Cochran was inducted into the Kappa Sigma Hall of Honor and won Fort Worth ISD Alumni of the Year.

Flashing Forward

Celebrating 33 years of operations this October, CDA has expanded into offices in Beverly Hills, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; and his hometown of Fort Worth. The first project CDA saw to completion was the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth and today, Cochran is the chair for its committee.

Cochran is involved with his community in many ways, including the Cowtown Ball, Shakespeare in the Park and the Tarrant County Historic Preservation Council.

"When you love something and you're proud of it, put time and effort into it," Cochran says.

As a former member of the CVAD Advisory Board, Cochran has given back to his alma mater in many ways and was recognized for his contributions at the college's building reception in 2019.

"My mom and dad came to the opening," Cochran says. "I'm very proud of being an alum."

Last summer, his father passed away following a battle with cancer. Cochran has been contributing to the American Cancer Society for years as a supporting member of the Cowtown Ball -- an annual event that has raised more than $9 million for cancer research.

In the little free time he has, Cochran spends his days waking up early to go out to the ranch, golfing, playing with his 3-year-old grandson, going out to lunch with his mother and acting as an extra in Texas-based TV shows like Yellowstone, Walker, Texas Ranger and Landman.

"I don't know what I would do if I retired."