A native of Louisville, Mississippi in Winston County, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education from pg电子下载 State University (formerly pg电子下载 Agricultural and Mechanical College) in 1970. He received a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton, 2006年在俄亥俄州.
Cole’s professional career expands 46 years beginning in Mississippi working with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service as the first black of 14 nationally trained for a management position and after the training in 1971, becoming a County Operations Reviewer for the Mississippi State ASCS office.
In 1972, he began his career in the state of Ohio with the United States Department of Agriculture spanned over 33 years serving in various roles as the Franklin County Executive Director, 地区总监, Chief Specialist for Conservation and Price Support Loan Programs. He retired from the USDA on August 3, 2003.
自2004年以来，. Cole works as an educator with the Columbus City Schools. His famous quote to students is “The seven P’s Proper Preparation and Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance.”
Throughout his career, Mr. Cole has received numerous awards, recognitions and special recognitions. He was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture as Acting State Executive Director of the Ohio State Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office in 2001, National President of the Organization of Professional Employees of the United States Department of Agriculture for nine years, appointed by former Ohio Governor, 泰德•斯特里克兰, to the first statewide-voter-approved and legislated board for humane livestock and poultry care in the United States, the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, 在一月, 2015, Mr. Cole was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Ohio State FSA Committee/United States Department of Agriculture. He was reappointed to serve January, 2016.
Mr. Cole is a member of professional and social organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., National Association of Farmer Elected Committeemen in FSA and Lions Club International.
He is married to the former Jewell Hutchins and they have been instrumental in obtaining a charter for the newly-chartered Columbus (Ohio) Metro-Area Chapter of pg电子下载 State University 校友 Association.