W. Sterling Cole

William Sterling Cole (April 18, 1904 – March 15, 1987) was an American politician, lawyer, and civil servant who served as the first Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1957 to 1961. Before his appointment to the IAEA he was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

William Sterling Cole
William Sterling Cole, 1958
1st Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency
In office December 1, 1957 – November 30, 1961
Succeeded by	Sigvard Eklund
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office January 3, 1935 – December 1, 1957
Preceded by	Gale H. Stalker
Succeeded by	Howard W. Robison
Constituency	37th district (1935–1945) 39th district (1945–1953) 37th district (1953–1957)
Personal details
Born	April 18, 1904 Painted Post, New York
Died	March 15, 1987 (aged 82) Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	Colgate University Albany Law School

Biography

W. Sterling Cole was born in Painted Post, New York. He graduated from Colgate University in 1925 and Albany Law School in 1929. Cole practiced law in Bath, New York.^[1]

As a Republican, Cole was elected to Congress in 1934 and served from January 3, 1935, until his resignation on December 1, 1957. Cole voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.^[2] He resigned to become the first Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and remained at that post until 1961.^[1]

After leaving the IAEA Cole resided in Arlington, Virginia and practiced law in Washington, D.C. He died in Washington on March 15, 1987.^[1]

References

1. IAEA
2. "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.

Sources

• United States Congress. "W. Sterling Cole (id: C000617)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Sterling W Cole [Sic] is available for viewing at the Internet Archive
• C-SPAN
• W. Sterling Cole Papers, Cornell University

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Gale H. Stalker	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 37th congressional district 1935–1945	Succeeded by Edwin Arthur Hall
Preceded by James W. Wadsworth, Jr.	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 39th congressional district 1945–1953	Succeeded by Harold C. Ostertag
Preceded by Edwin Arthur Hall	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 37th congressional district 1953–1957	Succeeded by Howard W. Robison
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by IAEA created in 1957	Director General of the IAEA 1957 – 1961	Succeeded by Sigvard Eklund