William Dorsey Jelks (November 7, 1855–December 14, 1931) was an American Democratic politician who was the Governor of Alabama from 1901 to 1907. He also briefly served between December 1 and December 26 1900 when Governor-elect William J. Samford was out of state at the beginning of his term seeking medical treatment. When Samford died on June 11 1901, Jelks took over as governor. In 1904, Governor Jelks fell ill and left the state for treatment, and Russell Cunningham acted as governor from April 25, 1904 to March 5, 1905.