William R. Cotter (politician)

William Ross (Bill) Cotter (July 18, 1926 – September 8, 1981) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut.

He was born in Hartford, Connecticut and graduated from Trinity College in 1949.

In 1953, he was elected to the city's court of common council and from 1955–1957 served as an aide to Governor Abraham Ribicoff.

He then served as Connecticut's deputy insurance commissioner from 1957 to 1964 and as insurance commissioner from 1964 through 1970.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-second and to the five succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1971, until his death from pancreatic cancer in East Lyme, Connecticut on September 8, 1981. In 1982, the William R. Cotter Federal Building at Hartford was named in his honor.