Peter Tali Coleman

Peter Tali Coleman
43rd, 51st, & 53rd Governor of American Samoa
In office January 2, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Lieutenant	Galea'i Peni Poumele (1989–1992) None (1992–1993)
Preceded by	A. P. Lutali
Succeeded by	A. P. Lutali
In office January 3, 1978 – January 3, 1985
Lieutenant	Tufele Liamatua
Preceded by	H. Rex Lee
Succeeded by	A. P. Lutali
In office October 15, 1956 – May 24, 1961
Preceded by	Richard Barrett Lowe
Succeeded by	H. Rex Lee
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1919 Pago Pago, American Samoa
Died	April 28, 1997 (aged 77) Honolulu, Hawaii
Resting place	Diamond Head Memorial Park Honolulu, Hawaii
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Nora Stewart Coleman (1941-1997)
Profession	attorney
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II

Peter Tali Coleman (December 8, 1919 – April 28, 1997) was the first person of Samoan descent to be appointed Governor of American Samoa and later became the territory's first popularly elected governor. A member of the Republican Party, he is the only U.S. governor whose service spanned five decades (1956–1961, 1978–1985 and 1989–1993) and one of the longest-serving governors of any jurisdiction in American history.

Background

Early life and career

Born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, Coleman graduated from Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He later joined the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of captain during World War II. He received his law degree from Georgetown University, and served in American Samoa both as a public defender and as the territory's attorney general.

Coleman was appointed governor of American Samoa in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower. At the conclusion of his term, he served a variety of positions in the Pacific Islands, including:

• district administrator for the Marshall Islands
• district administrator for the Marianas Islands
• deputy high commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and then served as acting high commissioner for one year

In 1977, Coleman became the first popularly elected governor of American Samoa. He was subsequently elected in 1980 and 1988.

Death and legacy

Coleman died in 1997 in Honolulu after a two-year struggle with liver cancer.

In 2014, his daughter Aumua Amata Radewagen, was elected Delegate to represent American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives.^[1]

References

1. Fili Sagapolutele (November 5, 2014). "1st woman elected as American Samoa delegate". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2014.

External links

• Obituary in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
• New York Times: Peter Coleman, 77, Governor of American Samoa
• Honolulu Advertiser: Nora Stewart Coleman, 85, former first lady of American Samoa