S. Ebow Coleman

Samuel Ebow Coleman was born in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana, on the West Coast of Africa. His curiosity in nature and science led him to study chemistry at the University in Kumasi (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology). He was active in volunteering and student union activities.

Growing up during the Cold War era of the late 50s and 60s, Coleman dreamt of studying in the three prevailing world systems: developing country, socialist country, and capitalist country. His educational experiences would prove to incorporate all three.

Upon graduation from Kumasi, Coleman was appointed general secretary of the All-Africa Students Union at a conference. He traveled extensively in Africa and Europe, including a trip to Prague. He then earned a Ghana government scholarship to study cement production technology at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague for his master's degree. Learning and studying in Czech was an exciting challenge.

Following graduation, Coleman had an internship at the German Cement Research Institute in Duesseldorf, and then gained admission to Purdue to study under Professor Sidney Diamond. The journey from Kumasi to Prague to West Lafayette fulfilled a childhood dream.

After completing his studies at Purdue, Coleman joined Dowell (later Dowell Schlumberger) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He worked on developing oil well cements that contained fly ash (a waste material from coal combustion that was previously prohibited by the American Petroleum Institute, due to extensive field problems). He studied the chemistry of North American fly ashes and, through the use of suitable admixtures, brought this resource into use in oil well cementing. This research resulted in the development of several patents.

Following his work with Dowell, Coleman moved to Houston to work for civil engineering firms. In 1991, he began working independently, and is currently president of C3S, Inc. Over the years, he has helped resolve some of the more perplexing construction material problems across several continents. His interest in organizing a Kumasi alumni branch in North America, and his contribution to humanitarian endeavors, earned him an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University in Kumasi in 2005.

Coleman lives in Houston with his wife, Anna. They have three grown children: Kwesi, Kathleen, and Jessica.