Luis A. Morales

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Morales and the second or maternal family name is Crespo.
Luis A. "Wito" Morales

Mayor Luis A. "Wito" Morales Crespo
Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
In office
1973–1976
Preceded by Juan H. Cintrón García
Succeeded by José G. Tormos Vega
Personal details
Born 7 January 1928
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died 18 June 2011(2011-06-18) (aged 83)
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nationality Puerto Rican
Political party Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
Occupation Broadcaster, sportsman
Profession Radio personality

Luis Antonio ("Wito") Morales Crespo[1] (7 January 1928 - 18 June 2011) was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1973 to 1976. He was also Senator for the District of Ponce from 1977 to 1980 and president of the Ponce Municipal Assembly from 1989 to 2004[2][3] He is recognized as a politician, sportsman, and sports broadcaster.[4]

Radio personality

Before entering politics, Morales Crespo was a prominent local radio personality and broadcaster. He played for the Ponce Lions’ professional baseball team from 1947 to 1953 and is an exalted member of Ponce’s Sports Hall of Fame, cited at the Francisco Pancho Coimbre Museum.[5]

Business endeavors

Starting in 1980 he became General Manager of WOLE-TV Channel 12 Aguadilla-Mayagüez.[6]

Mayoral works

The administration of mayor Morales Crespo was characterized mostly by the rebuilding of the infrastructure of the city. The most prominent public works during the administration of mayor Morales Crespo are the building of the New Farmers Market (Nueva Plaza del Mercado, or Plaza de Mercado Juan Bigas) on Mayor street, the building of levee systems for Rio Portugues and Rio Bucana, the modernization of the sewerage system in Barrio La Playa, and the building of the Municipal Public Works Operations Center in the El Tuque sector of Barrio Canas.[7] [8]

Death and legacy

Morales Crespo died at Hospital Damas, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 18 June 2011. Governor Luis Fortuño declared three days of mourning island-wide accompanied by the lowering of the U.S. and Puerto Rico flags at all public buildings and facilities in memory of Morales Crespo.[9] Ponce Mayor Mayita Melendez also declared three days of mourning and ordered all municipal flags in public buildings at half staff.[10]

Honors

In Ponce there is a park at the Cerrillos Lake and Dam area named after him.[11] Morales is also honored at Ponce's Park of Illustrious Ponce Citizens. Only six, of over 200 Ponce mayors, are honored there.[12]

See also

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Juan H. Cintrón García
Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
1972–1976
Succeeded by
José G. Tormos Vega
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