U.S. Territorial Governor of American Samoa. The son of a Samoan woman and a US Navy noncommissioned officer, Coleman graduated from St. Louis High School in Honolulu and joined the Army for World War II, serving as an infantryman in the Pacific theater and attaining the rank of Captain. After his discharge he received bachelor's (1949) and law (1951) degrees from Georgetown University and became an attorney and Interior Department staff assistant in Washington, DC. He soon decided to continue his career in American Samoa and obtained appointment as the territory's Public Defender. In June, 1955 he was appointed Attorney General, serving until he was appointed Governor in October, 1956. The first person of Samoan descent to serve as Governor, he held office until 1961. Coleman continued to serve the US government in the Pacific islands, including appointments as District Administrator for the Marshall Islands (1961 to 1965), District Administrator for the Marianas Islands (1965 to 1969), and Deputy High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1969 to 1977). In 1977 he won the vote to become American Samoa's first popularly elected Governor. He was reelected in 1980 and served from 1977 to 1985. In 1985 Coleman was the founding Chairman of American Samoa's Republican party, serving until 1988. In 1988 he was again elected Governor, serving from 1989 to 1993. A longtime resident of Pago Pago, he died in Honolulu while being treated for liver cancer.
U.S. Territorial Governor of American Samoa. The son of a Samoan woman and a US Navy noncommissioned officer, Coleman graduated from St. Louis High School in Honolulu and joined the Army for World War II, serving as an infantryman in the Pacific theater and attaining the rank of Captain. After his discharge he received bachelor's (1949) and law (1951) degrees from Georgetown University and became an attorney and Interior Department staff assistant in Washington, DC. He soon decided to continue his career in American Samoa and obtained appointment as the territory's Public Defender. In June, 1955 he was appointed Attorney General, serving until he was appointed Governor in October, 1956. The first person of Samoan descent to serve as Governor, he held office until 1961. Coleman continued to serve the US government in the Pacific islands, including appointments as District Administrator for the Marshall Islands (1961 to 1965), District Administrator for the Marianas Islands (1965 to 1969), and Deputy High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1969 to 1977). In 1977 he won the vote to become American Samoa's first popularly elected Governor. He was reelected in 1980 and served from 1977 to 1985. In 1985 Coleman was the founding Chairman of American Samoa's Republican party, serving until 1988. In 1988 he was again elected Governor, serving from 1989 to 1993. A longtime resident of Pago Pago, he died in Honolulu while being treated for liver cancer.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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