Willis Clifford Cook (October 5, 1874 – January 4, 1942) was a United States diplomat and a politician in the State of South Dakota. Biography Cook was born to Alfred and Sarah Cook in Gratiot, Wisconsin. In 1899 he married Mary Butler Miller. Career Cook was County Judge of Aurora County, South Dakota from 1900 to 1902. Later he was a member of the South Dakota State Senate from 1905 to 1909. He was Chairman of the Republican Party of South Dakota from 1906 to 1912 and a Republican National Committeeman from 1916 to 1920. From 1921 to 1929 he was U.S. Minister to Venezuela. See also United States Ambassador to Venezuela Members of the South Dakota State Senate References 1874 births 1942 deaths People from Gratiot, Wisconsin Ambassadors of the United States to Venezuela Republican Party South Dakota state senators South Dakota state court judges People from Aurora County, South Dakota