Peter Tali Coleman

Peter Coleman
43rd, 51st, and 53rd Governor of American Samoa
In office
January 2, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Lieutenant Galea'i Poumele
Gaioi Galeai
Preceded by A. P. Lutali
Succeeded by A. P. Lutali
In office
January 3, 1978 – January 3, 1985
Lieutenant Tufele Liamatua
Preceded by Rex Lee
Succeeded by A. P. Lutali
In office
October 15, 1956 – May 24, 1961
Preceded by Richard Lowe
Succeeded by Rex Lee
High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Acting
In office
July 1, 1976 – July 9, 1977
Preceded by Edward E. Johnston
Succeeded by Adrian P. Winkel
Personal details
Born (1919-12-08)December 8, 1919
Pago Pago, American Samoa, U.S.
Died April 28, 1997(1997-04-28) (aged 77)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Resting place Diamond Head Memorial Park
Honolulu, Hawaii
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Nora Stewart (1941–1997)
Children Amata
Education Georgetown University (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance  United States
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:

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.[1]

In 2014, his daughter Aumua Amata Radewagen, was elected Delegate to represent American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives.[2]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/01/us/peter-coleman-77-governor-of-american-samoa.html
  2. ↑ Fili Sagapolutele (November 5, 2014). "1st woman elected as American Samoa delegate". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Richard Lowe		 Governor of American Samoa
1956–1961		 Succeeded by
Rex Lee
Preceded by
Edward E. Johnston		 High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Acting
1976–1977		 Succeeded by
Adrian P. Winkel
Preceded by
Rex Lee		 Governor of American Samoa
1978–1985		 Succeeded by
A. P. Lutali
Preceded by
A. P. Lutali		 Governor of American Samoa
1989–1993
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