Letter home from Col. W.D. Cotton, in Belgium Sat, Apr 7, 1945 – 3 · The Richland Beacon-News (Rayville, Louisiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

William Davis Cotton b. Feb. 9, 1904 d. Dec. 23, 1989, son of George Spencer Cotton and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Davis, graduated from Louisiana State University Law School in 1927, was a former Louisiana State Senator but resigned his seat to volunteer for World War II service, in which he was involved with planning the D-Day invasion (Lt. Colonel U.S. Army), was a lawyer in Rayville LA, past Louisiana Bar Association president, founding president of First National Bank in Rayville, and the author of a book tracing the roots of his family: “The Cottons of Catahoula and Related Families” 1987 (with Carole Cotton-Winn) ISBN: 0961846402, which has been recognized as a 1988 National History Award competition winner.