Nicholas David Coleman (February 23, 1925 – March 5, 1981) was a Minnesota politician and a former member and majority leader of the Minnesota Senate. A Democrat, he was first elected in 1962 and reelected in 1966, 1970, 1972, and 1976. He represented the old districts 45, 46, and 65, which changed through the years due to legislative redistricting, and included portions of the city of Saint Paul in Ramsey County.[1]
Born in Saint Paul, Coleman served as a Signalman 2nd Class in the United States Navy during World War II. He entered politics as a volunteer for the 1948 congressional campaign of Eugene McCarthy, then a professor at the College of St. Thomas (now the University of St. Thomas), where Coleman was a student. He was later Minnesota chair for the 1964 presidential campaign of Lyndon Johnson.
While in the Senate, Coleman served as an assistant minority leader from 1967 to 1970, as minority leader during the 1971–1972 biennium, and as the first Democrat in 114 years to become majority leader—a position he held from 1973 until leaving the Senate in 1981. The Democrats held the majority in that chamber of the Minnesota Legislature until January, 2011. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the DFL Party's endorsement for governor in 1970, and for the U.S. Senate in 1978.[1]
Coleman was a founder and partner of the advertising agency Coleman-Goff Advertising, later known as Coleman and Christison. He was the father of Chris Coleman, the former mayor of St. Paul, of Minnesota journalist Nick Coleman, and of the Acquisitions Librarian at the Minnesota Historical Society Library, Patrick K. Coleman.[1] Prior to his career in advertising, he was a high school teacher for two years in the rural town of Tyler, Minnesota.
Coleman was married twice. He left his first wife, the mother of his seven children, to marry Deborah Howell, who was 14 years his junior. The divorce and betrayal cost him his relationship with then-governor Rudy Perpich, who was a devout Catholic.[2]
^ abc"Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Coleman, Nicholas D". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
^Wilson, Betty (2005). Rudy! the People's Governor. Nodin Press. ISBN9781932472271.
Sourcesedit
Lacy, Robert. "A Very Fine Fellow from Frogtown. Remembering Nick Coleman – from Many Viewpoints." Minnesota Law and Politics, February/March 2009, p. 12–16.
Milton, John Watson, "Five Sons of Erin at the State Capitol," 'Ramsey County History' Magazine, Spring 2009
Milton, John Watson, "How the Adman Became the Senator from Ramsey," Ramsey County History Magazine, Spring 2011
Milton, John Watson, For the Good of the Order, the life and times of Minnesota's Senator Nick Coleman, to be published in 2011
External linksedit
Nick Coleman at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
April 11, 2024
nick, coleman, politician, this, article, about, minnesota, politician, other, uses, nick, coleman, disambiguation, nicholas, david, coleman, february, 1925, march, 1981, minnesota, politician, former, member, majority, leader, minnesota, senate, democrat, fir. This article is about the Minnesota politician For other uses see Nick Coleman disambiguation Nicholas David Coleman February 23 1925 March 5 1981 was a Minnesota politician and a former member and majority leader of the Minnesota Senate A Democrat he was first elected in 1962 and reelected in 1966 1970 1972 and 1976 He represented the old districts 45 46 and 65 which changed through the years due to legislative redistricting and included portions of the city of Saint Paul in Ramsey County 1 Nick Coleman5th Minnesota Senate Majority LeaderIn office January 1973 January 1981Preceded byStanley W HolmquistSucceeded byRoger Moe5th Minnesota Senate Minority LeaderIn office January 1971 January 1973Preceded byKarl F GrittnerSucceeded byHarold G KriegerMember of the Minnesota State SenateIn office 1963 1981Personal detailsBornNicholas David ColemanFebruary 23 1925Saint Paul Minnesota USDiedMarch 5 1981 1981 03 05 aged 56 Saint Paul Minnesota USPolitical partyMinnesota Democratic Farmer Labor PartySpouse s Bridget FinneganDeborah HowellChildrenNicholas J Patrick Maureen Brendan Meghan Christopher Emmett Alma materCollege of St ThomasUniversity of MinnesotaOccupationadvertising agency owner legislatorBorn in Saint Paul Coleman served as a Signalman 2nd Class in the United States Navy during World War II He entered politics as a volunteer for the 1948 congressional campaign of Eugene McCarthy then a professor at the College of St Thomas now the University of St Thomas where Coleman was a student He was later Minnesota chair for the 1964 presidential campaign of Lyndon Johnson While in the Senate Coleman served as an assistant minority leader from 1967 to 1970 as minority leader during the 1971 1972 biennium and as the first Democrat in 114 years to become majority leader a position he held from 1973 until leaving the Senate in 1981 The Democrats held the majority in that chamber of the Minnesota Legislature until January 2011 He was an unsuccessful candidate for the DFL Party s endorsement for governor in 1970 and for the U S Senate in 1978 1 Coleman was a founder and partner of the advertising agency Coleman Goff Advertising later known as Coleman and Christison He was the father of Chris Coleman the former mayor of St Paul of Minnesota journalist Nick Coleman and of the Acquisitions Librarian at the Minnesota Historical Society Library Patrick K Coleman 1 Prior to his career in advertising he was a high school teacher for two years in the rural town of Tyler Minnesota Coleman was married twice He left his first wife the mother of his seven children to marry Deborah Howell who was 14 years his junior The divorce and betrayal cost him his relationship with then governor Rudy Perpich who was a devout Catholic 2 Coleman died of leukemia on March 5 1981 His body lay in state in the Minnesota State Capitol before burial in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis References edit a b c Minnesota Legislators Past amp Present Legislator Record Coleman Nicholas D Leg state mn us Retrieved July 20 2010 Wilson Betty 2005 Rudy the People s Governor Nodin Press ISBN 9781932472271 Sources editLacy Robert A Very Fine Fellow from Frogtown Remembering Nick Coleman from Many Viewpoints Minnesota Law and Politics February March 2009 p 12 16 Milton John Watson Five Sons of Erin at the State Capitol Ramsey County History Magazine Spring 2009 Milton John Watson How the Adman Became the Senator from Ramsey Ramsey County History Magazine Spring 2011 Milton John Watson For the Good of the Order the life and times of Minnesota s Senator Nick Coleman to be published in 2011External links editNick Coleman at Minnesota Legislators Past amp Present Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nick Coleman politician amp oldid 1209073132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
