William Telford (June 15, 1912 – August 21, 2003) was an American politician who served as mayor of Springfield, Illinois.

Telford served as Sangamon County's coroner for 19 years before deciding to run for Mayor.

He operated his own optometry office in Springfield for 10 years, before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II.

After four years of service, he was honorably discharged in 1946, and went to work at the J. Ralph Tobin and Son Optometry department in Springfield.

[1] With no political experience, Telford entered the race for Sangamon County Coroner in January 1952.

[5] During his first term in office, Mayor Telford welcomed then-President Richard Nixon to Springfield, as Nixon signed the Lincoln Home Bill, which made the four block area surrounding Abraham Lincoln's home a national historic site.