José Tormos Diego
José Tormos Diego | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mayor José Tormos Diego | |
| 121st Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| In office 1937–1941 | |
| Preceded by | Blas Oliveras |
| Succeeded by | Andrés Grillasca Salas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 November 1890 Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Died | 24 August 1977[1] Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Profession | Industrial Engineer[2] |
José Valentin Tormos Diego (2 November 1890 - August 1977) was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1937 to 1941. He is best remembered for under his administration the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party received a permit for a peaceful march, which resulted in the Ponce Massacre by Insular Police under authority supplied by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Governor Blanton Winship.[3][4][5] During his administration he also rebuilt the historic Teatro La Perla, and reconditioned the Teatro La Perla northern annex to be used as headquarters of the municipal public library.
Early years
Tormos Diego was the son of Joaquin Tormos and Catalina Diego.[6] Tormos Diego married Amparo Vega Nevarez on 25 September 1911, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico,[7] and they had 6 children: Carmen Amparo, Nelida Mercedes, Ana Luisa, Aida, José, and Gloria.[8]
Mayoral selection
Antonio M. Delgado had been elected mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1936. However he died before taking office.[9] Jose Tormos Diego was selected by the standing political party to replace Mr. Delgado.
Ponce massacre
Tormos Diego is best known for under his administration the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party received a permit for a peaceful march, which resulted in the Ponce Massacre by Insular Police under authority supplied by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Governor Blanton Winship.[10][11][12] Tormos Diego also rebuilt Teatro La Perla during his administration.
Death and legacy
Tormos Diego died on 24 August 1977. During his mayoral administration he rebuilt the historic Teatro La Perla in 1940. During the project he also reconditioned the Teatro La Perla northern annex to be used as headquarters of the municipal public library.[13] In Ponce there is also a public housing development named after him.
References
- ^ Puerto Rico Department of Health. Certificate of Death. Number (Area 152, Year 1977) #56-698.
- ^ Puerto Rico Department of Health. Certificate of Death. Number (Area 152, Year 1977) #56-698.
- ^ Handed permit to the Nationalists
- ^ Jose Enrique Ayoroa Santaliz. La Masacre de Ponce: Breve relacion de hechos y algunos de sus personajes. Ponce Massacre Museum. March 2011.
- ^ Informacion sobre Puerto Rico. Archived 2012-05-03 at the Wayback Machine Puerto Rico: Pueblo a Pueblo. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ Puerto Rico Department of Health. Certificate of Death. Number (Area 152, Year 1977) #56-698.
- ^ Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001.
- ^ 1930 United States Federal Census.
- ^ Alcaldia de Ponce Cuidad Senorial. Iris Antongiorgi Concepcion and Gladys E. Tormes Gonzalez, Ponce Historical Archives. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
- ^ Handed permit to the Nationalists
- ^ Jose Enrique Ayoroa Santaliz. La Masacre de Ponce: Breve relacion de hechos y algunos de sus personajes. Ponce Massacre Museum. March 2011.
- ^ Informacion sobre Puerto Rico. Archived 2012-05-03 at the Wayback Machine Puerto Rico: Pueblo a Pueblo. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ Information retrieved from the commemorative plaque in the lobby of Teatro La Perla in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Its complete name in 1940 was "Auditorio y Libreria Publica La Perla".