A Biographical Sketch of American Samoa’s Forty-first and Forty-ninth Governor, Sixth Appointed Civil Governor and First Elected Samoan Civil Governor): Peter Tali Coleman (Terms of Office: October 15, 1956-May 24, 1961; January 3, 1978-January 3, 1985; January 2, 1989-January 3, 1993)
‘Man of the Pacific’
led American Samoa
Peter Coleman, 77, dies here after a
two-year battle with cancer
By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin
Peter Tali Coleman was called "a man of the Pacific" in one of the many honorary degrees he was awarded, but that was not a fanciful title. It would serve as a summary of his life.
He was the first Samoan to be appointed governor of American Samoa, a U.S. territory, and later the first elected governor there.
His service as governor bridged five decades, from the appointment in 1956-61, to three elected terms, the most recent ending in 1993.
He spent nearly 17 years as an American appointee in administrative roles in the former U.N. Trust Territories of Micronesia. Then he served as an adviser to the government and the emerging Western Pacific nations as they gained independence. He founded PTC Inc., a government relations firm specializing in Pacific island matters, was the Republican national committeeman from American Samoa, and an attorney.
Coleman, 77, died yesterday at his Honolulu home after a two-year struggle with cancer.
"He was early recognized as a leader and will be remembered as one of the forerunners in the Pacific among native-born leaders who helped their nations chart their own destinies," said Gov. Ben Cayetano.
"His contribution will long be recalled with respect and affection."
Gov. Tauese P.F. Sunia of American Samoa ordered the United States and American Samoa flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days in Coleman's home islands. Sunia will attend services in Honolulu next week, according to his chief of staff.
"There is no question of Peter Coleman's place in history, not only in American Samoa but throughout the Pacific," said Sunia in a message to Coleman's family. "I am proud to say that I knew him, that I worked for and with him, and that I witnessed the progress and change he brought to American Samoa."
Kitty Simonds, executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, said: "He really knew the heart of the Pacific peoples." She recalled Coleman's effort to affirm native islanders' fishing rights, a move not popular with the American fishing industry or the tuna packing firms in Pago Pago.
City Councilman Mufi Hannemann said: "He was definitely a role model for many Samoans. Through his example, he embodied the best ideals and values of a public statesman."
C.E. "Rags" Scanlan, president of Royal Guard Security, said Coleman was "distinguished by his work for the betterment of all in the South Pacific." Scanlan, whom Coleman tapped to coordinate Hawaii relief efforts after a 1991 hurricane devastated Samoa, said the man was "very unpolitical. He was in politics but wasn't a politician. He was a private person, he worked behind the scenes."
J.E. Tihati Thompson of Tihati Productions said: "I will always respect him for the assistance he gave not only to the people of Samoa, but also to the Tokelau people of Swains Island Atoll while in office. He grew into a very gracious statesman whom many would consult for political advice."
Coleman is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nora; sons William P., Peter T. Jr., Milton, Bruce, Charles, Richard, Paul, Barrett and Alan; daughters Amata, Sina'ita'aga and Limonmon; sisters Laida and Marion; 23 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
St. Louis grad, Army vet
Dec. 8, 1919: Born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the son of Amata Aumua of Pago Pago and William P. Coleman of Washington, D.C., a former Navy chief master at arms.
1939: Graduated from St. Louis High School where he played on the football team.
1940-45: U.S. Army infantry with service in the Solomon Islands.
1951: Received a law degree from Georgetown University, where he was a John Hay Whitney Foundation fellow.
1956: Appointed governor of American Samoa, after serving as public defender and attorney general.
1961: Appointed district administrator of the Marshall Islands, where he was the first U.S. citizen to be given honorary citizenship by the island parliament.
1965: Named district administrator of the Mariana Islands.
1969: Named deputy high commissioner of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific, a term ending in 1977 after one year as acting high commissioner.
1977: Became first elected governor of American Samoa.
1980: Elected to second term.
1989: Elected to third term.
Military Service: Army
Wars Served: World War II
PETER TALI COLEMAN was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa. He enlisted in the army during World War II, rising to the rank of captain, and has been inducted into the U.S. Army Infantry Hall of Fame. After receiving his bachelor's and law degrees from Georgetown University, he returned to the Pacific to practice law and became attorney general of the territory in 1955. The first native Samoan to be appointed governor, he served 1956-1961 and later became American Samoa's first elected governor, serving 1978-1981. He was reelected in 1980 and then served a third term 1988-1993. He has also served as chief executive of the Marshalls and the Marianas; as deputy high commissioner of the Trust Territory; as counsel to the Pacific Advisory Committee of George Bush's Fund for American's Future; as honorary consul for the Republic of Nauru in American Samoa; and as founding chair of the Republican Party of American Samoa. His service as governor spanned five decades.
Governor Uifa’atali Peter Tali Coleman:
Important Dates in His Life
On December 8, 1919, Peter Tali Coleman, who became American Samoa's first Samoan Attorney General, the only Samoan appointed civil governor, the first elected Samoan governor, the longest-serving governor in the history of American Samoa, and the only person in the history of the United States and its territories who served as governor in five consecutive
decades, was born in Pago Pago.
(1c. Samoa News 04/29/97: 1)
On June 1, 1955, “a new Attorney General was appointed by the Governor [of American Samoa] to fill the position left vacant upon the resignation of the previous incumbent who has returned to private practice…..the appointment of the new Attorney General, who is a Samoan-born qualified lawyer and a member of the District of Columbia Bar, marked the first time that a major department in the Government of American Samoa was headed by a Samoan.” [N.B. Strangely, the report makes no mention of the new Attorney
General’s name: Peter Tali Coleman].
(1d. Lowe 1955: 26)
On October 16, 1956, Peter Tali Coleman began his term as American Samoa's sixth appointed civil governor, and first Samoan governor (until May 24, 1961). He was appointed by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton, who in turn was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
(6. Sorensen 2003: 3)
On November 1, 1977, Peter Tali Coleman was elected as American Samoa’s first elected Governor. His running mate was Tufele Li’amatua who was the first elected Lieutenant Governor.
(6. Sorensen 2003: 3)
On January 3, 1978, Peter Tali Coleman began his second gubernatorial term (his first as American Samoa's first elected Governor), thus becoming the only person to serve as both an appointed and an elected governor of American Samoa. Tufele Li'amatua was inaugurated as the first elected Lieutenant Governor.
(6. Sorensen 2003: 3)
On April 28, 1997, Uifa'atali Peter Tali Coleman, who was American Samoa's first Samoan Attorney General, first Samoan Governor, and first elected Governor, passed away at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. Governor Coleman was "the only U.S. Governor ever to serve in that office for ...five [consecutive] decades." His survivors included "his wife, Nora; sons William P., Peter T., Jr., Milton, Bruce, Charles, Ricard, Paul, Barrett and Alan; daughters Amata, Sina'ita'aga and Limonmon; sisters Laida and
Marion; 23 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren."
(1c. Samoa News, 04/29/1997: 1; 1b. Bendix 1997: 9)
On May 10, 1997, American Samoa's first elected governor, Uifa'atali Peter Tali Coleman, was buried in Diamond Head Memorial Park, Hawai'i, following funeral services at St. Augustine's Church, Honolulu, which were attended by more than 700 people, including Governors Ben Cayetano of Hawai'i and Tauese P.F. Sunia of American Samoa. (Please see the entry for April 28, 1997).
(1c. Bendix 1997: 9; 1c. Jensen 1997: 4)
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