Senator Whitmer's statement is as follows:
I offer today a resolution and a memorial to Herman C. Coleman, who was actually a personal friend of mine, I'm happy to say, and we lived right down the street from one another. I'll tell you a little bit about the great life that he lead.
In 1985, Mr.Coleman was appointed to the Michigan Insurance Bureau by Governor James Blanchard. He was a well-respected leader as Michigan's insurance commissioner, highly regarded by all of state government as well as the insurance industry throughout the state of Michigan. Herm Coleman changed the insurance climate in our state. With his leadership, the regulators and the insurance industry joined together to explore ideas to assist Michigan in becoming a strong center for doing insurance business.
Prior to his appointment as insurance commissioner, Herm served as the first African-American executive director of the Michigan Education Association. In April of 1993, the MEA established the Herman W. Coleman Human Relations Award that is presented every year to a public official, community leader, or educator for their contributions in the struggle against racism and sexism in education and labor.
In 1988, when he left the Insurance Bureau, he served for several years as the vice president for corporate relations for AAA of Michigan before becoming a private business consultant.
The highlights of Herm Coleman's life are too numerous to mention in this short time. He was the recipient of Alcorn State University's Centennial Alumni Award, which recognizes the most distinguished alumni during the last 100 years; selected as one of ten educational policymakers from throughout the United States to participate in an educational study mission to Egypt and Israel in 1979; appointed to the Michigan State Advisory Committee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, past chair; Wayne County Coalition for the Homeless and the list goes on and on.
Herm Coleman was a dedicated servant to the people of Michigan and his passing is a great loss to our state. He will be missed by all who knew him and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family.