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Leslie Cochran Passes Away

Austin's iconic Leslie Cochran passed away early this morning.
Photo courtesy .Shawn McHorse
Austin's iconic Leslie Cochran passed away early this morning.

Leslie Cochran passed away in an Austin hospice overnight.

KUT News spoke with Debbie Russell, a friend and spokesperson for Leslie yesterday. She told us then that “he’s slipping deeper and deeper into unconsciousness, and basically, his organs are shutting down.” And around 1 a.m. last night, Leslie passed on. He had been moved into hospice following a hospitalization in February. 

Leslie Cochran was 60 years old.

"A friend remarked that if it weren't for Austin, he probably wouldn't have lived this long," says Russell. "I don’t know if he could have done 'that Leslie thing' many other places. So he's grateful to us, and I think even more so, we should be grateful him, for all that he’s given us."

Russell emails to say “two public services will be held in his honor.  One is in the works for tonight, a march down 6th St. at 7 p.m. and the other, a memorial service will take place in two Sundays; details coming very shortly on tonight." She also notes the Austin City Council plans on declaring today "Leslie Day" in the city of Austin.

Wells has been a part of KUT News since 2012, when he was hired as the station's first online reporter. He's currently the social media host and producer for Texas Standard, KUT's flagship news program. In between those gigs, he served as online editor for KUT, covering news in Austin, Central Texas and beyond.
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