William Clay Cole

William Clay Cole (August 29, 1897 – September 23, 1965) was a Republican representative from Missouri's 3rd congressional district from 1943 to 1949 and from the Missouri's 6th congressional district 1953 to 1955.

He was born on a farm near Fillmore, Missouri. He was a mounted scout on the Mexican border with the Missouri National Guard during the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1916 and served in France for 14 months during World War I.

After the war he graduated from St. Joseph Law School, which operated under the auspices of the YMCA in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1912 to 1938. He served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1942 to 1943, after winning a vacant seat in a special election. In 1942 he was elected to the U.S. House, and served 1943 to 1949. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1948. He ran unsuccessfully in 1950, but won again in 1952, serving one term, 1953 to 1955. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1954.

Cole returned to his law practice in St. Joseph was a member of the federal Board of Veterans Appeals from 1955 to 1960. He died in St. Joseph on September 23, 1965 and was buried at Fillmore Cemetery in Fillmore.