[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3056]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HERMAN COLEMAN

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the life of Mr. Herman Coleman. Herman was an 
outstanding and dedicated public servant whose influence, knowledge and 
achievements were widely known and highly regarded. Over the course of 
more than 30 years, Herman held several important positions within the 
State of Michigan, on the national level and in the private sector. His 
efforts have made a broad impact.
  Herman began his career with the Michigan Education Association, 
where he would ultimately become the Association's first African-
American executive director/ chief administrator. Among other 
achievements, Herman was an integral part of statewide deliberations 
regarding the desegregation of Michigan's school districts.
  His successful tenure with the MEA led to his appointment as 
Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. As 
Assistant Secretary, Herman drafted Executive Order No. 12232, which 
provided the framework for increased Federal assistance to historically 
Black colleges and universities. This order remains in effect today. 
Herman would continue his efforts to improve and reform education 
policy after leaving the U.S. Department of Education.
  In 1985, Herman was appointed by Governor Blanchard as the first 
African-American chief executive officer of the State of Michigan 
Insurance Department. After a successful tenure with the department, 
Herman sought to make his mark in the private sector as vice president 
of corporate relations for AAA Michigan, where he oversaw AAA's 
community relations and governmental affairs departments. Herman then 
moved to the health care arena as a consultant for the Potomac Group 
Consultants, and, in 1994, began service as both partner/marketing 
director and managing partner of the Insured Vehicle Identification 
Network, IVIN.
  Herman Coleman's strong leadership and pioneering efforts throughout 
his lifetime are evidenced by his many achievements and by the many 
awards and honors bestowed upon him. His legacy will reverberate for 
many years. I know my colleagues in the Senate join me in honoring the 
life of Mr. Herman Coleman and in offering the most sincere condolences 
to his daughters, Hope and Heather, the rest of his family and to his 
many colleagues and friends. He will truly be missed.

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