Andrés Grillasca Salas
Andrés Grillasca Salas | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mayor Andrés Grillasca Salas | |
| 122nd Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| In office 1941–1956 | |
| Preceded by | José Tormos Diego |
| Succeeded by | José Dapena Laguna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 January 1888 Adjuntas, Puerto Rico |
| Died | 1 December 1973 (aged 85) Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Profession | politician |
Andrés Grillasca Salas (6 January 1888 - 1 December 1973) was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1941 to 1956. He was born in the neighboring town of Adjuntas[1] in 1888.[2] Until the recent administration of Rafael Cordero Santiago, Grillasca Salas had the distinction of being the longest-serving mayor of the city (16 years).[3] He was known to always dress in white clothes.[4]
Political life
Grillasca defeated future governor of Puerto Rico Luis A. Ferre in the bid for mayor of Ponce in 1940.[5]
City works
Juan Morel Campos Music Institute
In 1947 Grillasca established the Ponce Free School of Music.[6] The school is now known as the Juan Morel Campos Music Institute.
Paquito Montaner Stadium and Juan Pachins Vicens Auditorium
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Grillasca Salas also had an interest in sports, and in 1949 he inaugurated the Francisco Montaner Stadium in Ponce. He also established a fund for the creation of a second new sports venue in Ponce. To accomplish it, he established a special contribution for every sports activity held in the city. Still short of funds, the project was not developed for many years. However, during the administration of mayor Eduardo Ruberté Bisó (1964–1968), new interest on the project developed and construction started on what was then called the Ponce Coliseum. It was later renamed the Juan "Pachín" Vicens Auditorium, in honor of the greatest figure in Ponce basketball.
Abolition Park
Grillasca Salas is also remembered for building, in 1956, what is to this day the only monument in the Antilles dedicated to the abolition of slavery. The monument is now surrounded by a park with graceful gardens and is located next to an outdoors acoustic amphitheater, and is called Abolition Park.[7][8]
Honors and legacy
Salas is honored at Ponce's Park of Illustrious Ponce Citizens. Only six, of over 100 Ponce mayors, are honored there.[9] He is remembered as a mayor who fought for the autonomy of the municipality of Ponce from the centralization forces at the Central Government in San Juan.[10] In Ponce, there is a private housing development named after him ("Villa Grillasca"), as well as a hospital, Hospital Oncologico Andres Grillasca, named in his honor.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Birthplace
- ^ Date of Birth and Death
- ^ longest serving
- ^ Abre Instituto Ponceño de Síndrome Down. Reinaldo Millán La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1575. Page 18. 5 February 2014.
- ^ El Boricua Puerto Rican Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- ^ Free School of Music[permanent dead link]
- ^ MundoBoricua Retrieved June 28, 2009.
- ^ Abolition Park Retrieved July 29, 2009.
- ^ Politics. TravelPonce. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ Carmelo Rosario Natal. Ponce En Su Historia Moderna: 1945-2002. Published by Secretaría de Cultura y Turismo of the Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2003. p. 11.
- ^ Historia del HOAG. HOAG. 2018. Accessed 10 February 2018.
Further reading
- El Cacique, by Riggin Dapena Vidal. 212 pages. Published by Milagros G. Mayoral, 1996. (LCCN: 97121968) Coamo, P. R. : Imprenta Costa.