Andrés Grillasca Salas

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Grillasca and the second or maternal family name is Salas.
Andrés Grillasca Salas

Mayor Andrés Grillasca Salas
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(1973-12-01) (aged 85)
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nationality Puerto Rican
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

Grillasca during his mayoral term

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

Salas is honored at Ponce's Park of Illustrious Ponce Citizens. Only six, of over 200 Ponce mayors, are honored there.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Birthplace
  2. ↑ Date of Birth and Death
  3. ↑ longest serving
  4. ↑ Abre Instituto Ponceño de Síndrome Down. Reinaldo Millán La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1575. Page 18. 5 February 2014.
  5. ↑ El Boricua Puerto Rican Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  6. ↑ Free School of Music
  7. ↑ MundoBoricua Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  8. ↑ Abolition Park Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  9. ↑ Politics. TravelPonce. Retrieved 18 June 2012.

Additional reading

Political offices
Preceded by
José Tormos Diego		 Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
1941–1956 		Succeeded by
José Dapena Laguna
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