William R. Ferguson

William R. Ferguson (July 23, 1900 – June 20, 1967) was an American contactee, fraudster, and religious leader. He was the leader and co-founder of the UFO religion the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship. A former mail carrier and taxi driver, he promoted techniques of "absolute relaxation" that he claimed allowed him to travel to other dimensions, and later claimed he was in communication with a Martian entity named Khauga. He wrote several books propounding these techniques and concepts.

Ferguson began to gather followers in the 1940s due to alleged cosmic healing techniques, including a quack medical device called the Zerret Applicator, which he sold as a cure-all. Ferguson was convicted of fraud over his medical claims about the applicator in 1950 and spent a year in prison. Following his release, Ferguson founded the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship in 1954 in Chicago, after he said he had received a vision from aliens that UFOs were beneficial and desired to help the Earth. After its founding, Ferguson traveled around the United States and established several chapters of the organization in different cities. Following Ferguson's death in 1967, the Circle continued to publish his works.