W. Q. Cole

William Qualls Cole (June 28, 1856 - July 25, 1924) was an American official. He served as State Auditor of Mississippi from 1900 to 1904 and as Mississippi's first insurance commissioner.

Early life William Qualls Cole was born on June 28, 1856, in Woodlawn Plantation, Holmes County, Mississippi. He was the son of William Ferguson Cole and Aurelia Qualls Watson. The company was described as "one of the foremost life insurance companies of the South" and "one of the state's jewels". He resigned from his position in 1920 due to failing health. He was a member of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He married Alice May West on December 13, 1882. They had four children: William West, Alice Williams, George Welling, and Wilfred Qualls. Cole died at "half-past one o'clock" on the morning of July 25, 1924 at his residence in Jackson.