Luis Ferré
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Luis Alberto Ferré (1904 - 2003)

Luis Alberto Ferré aka Ferré Aguayo
Born in Ponce, Puerto Ricomap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , and
Husband of — married 28 May 1931 (to 5 Mar 1970) in Mayagüez, Puerto Ricomap
Husband of — married 26 Jul 1980 in Viejo San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Ricomap
Father of and
Died at age 99 in San Juan, Puerto Ricomap
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Profile last modified | Created 18 Feb 2023
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Contents

Biography

Notables Project
Luis Ferré is Notable.
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Luis Ferré was born in Puerto Rico.

Luis A. Ferré was an industrialist, philanthropist, and patron of the arts who served as governor of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973. He founded the New Progressive Party (PNP) which advocates for the U.S. statehood of Puerto Rico. He is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Family & Education

Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on 17 February 1904 (See Research Note 1). His father, Antonio Ferré Bacallao, was born in Cuba to French and Cuban parents and his mother, María Luisa Aguayo Casals, was born in the Virgin Islands to Puerto Rican parents. His christening was held on 1 January 1905 in Ponce at the "Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe" (Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish).[1] Between 1910 and 1930, Don Luis continued to live with his parents and siblings in Ponce.[2][3][4]

He graduated with high honors from Morristown High School in New Jersey in 1920 where he was a student his senior year.[5] He also obtained both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1924 and 1925, respectively.[5][6][7] A talented pianist from a young age, he also studied advance paino for five years at the New England Conservatory of Music.[7]

Don Luis became an American citizen through naturalization on 9 June 1926 at 21 years old[8] (See Research Note 2).

He married Lorenza "Lorencita" Ramirez de Arellano on 28 May 1931 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.[9] In 1940, Don Luis was "jefe' (head) of his household and lived in Ponce with his wife and children.[10] Don Luis and Lorencita remain married until her death in 1970 and henceforth, his daughter, Rosario Ferré, assumes the role of First Lady.

In 1981, he married his second wife, Teodomira (Tiody) de Jesús in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[11] They remain married until his death.[12]

Industrial Career

Upon graduating from MIT, Don Luis returned to Puerto Rico and initiated his career as an engineer at Puerto Rico Iron Works, a heavy industry iron foundry founded by his father. He made a fortune by transforming it into a profitable industrial enterprise.[5][6][7]

He becomes the President and Editor of El Día in 1945, known today as El Nuevo Día, which becomes the largest circulation newspaper in the island.[6]

Don Luis also entered the construction business. The Empresa Ferré (Ferré Enterprises) acquired both Puerto Rico Cement, Inc and Ponce Cement, Inc. [5][6] Ponce Cement, Inc was the first Puerto Rican company to be listed in the New York Stock Exchange.[5]

Political Life

Don Luis actively participated in politics and assumed many political roles:

Year Political Role
1940 & 1944Unsuccesfully ran for Mayor of Ponce [6][13]
1948Unsuccesfully ran for Resident Commisioner of Puerto Rico[6][13]
1951Delegate in the Constitutional Assembly that drafts the the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which is ratified in 1952[5][6][13]
1952Elected representative in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives[6][13][14]
1953-57Served as representative in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives[13][14]
1956, 1960, & 1964Unsuccesfully ran for Governor of Puerto Rico[5][13]
1967Formed the New Progressive Party (PNP), which advocates for statehood[5][7][13][14]
1968Wins the race for Governor of Puerto Rico [5][6][13][14]
1969-733rd Governor of Puerto Rico[5][6][13][14]
1971-72Served on the Executive Committee of the National Governors’ Conference and chaired the Southern Governors’ Conference, respectively[14]
1972Unsuccesfullly ran for a second term as Governor[5][6][13]
1976 & 1980Elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico[5][6][13]
1977-81 & 1981-85Served two terms as President of the Senate of Puerto Rico[5][6][13]
1989-91Served in the New Progressive Party's negotiating team for statehood[6]

Philanthropy

In 1937, Don Luis revived the first "Biblioteca Pública de Ponce" (Public Library of Ponce) known today as the Ponce Municipal Library (See Research Note 3).

In 1956, Don Luis and his first wife, Lorencita, established the Luis A. Ferré Foundation to support the growth and development of the arts and education in Puerto Rico.[5][7]

He founded the Museo de Arte de Ponce (Ponce Museum of Art) on January 3, 1959.[5][6][7]

As a pianist, he recorded several albums.[6] One of these was the "Concierto No. 3 Beethoven, in D minor for piano and orchestra," which he performed with the Arturo Somohano Orchestra in 1974.[5]

Between 1993 and 2002, Don Luis was a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporación de las Artes Musicales de Puerto Rico (Corporation of Musical Arts of Puerto Rico), for the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra), the Casals Festival, the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and the musical and social programs of the Orchestra.[5][7]

Death & Legacy

Don Luis was 99 years old when he passed away on 21 October 2003 from respiratory failure due to pneumonia contracted while in the hospital for intestinal blockage surgery and a urinary tract infection.[6][15]

Don Luis was conferred honorary doctorate degrees by several educational institutions including Colegio Politécnico de San Germán in Puerto Rico (1956), Harvard University (1970), University of New York (1970), and the New England Conservatory of Music (1975).[5]

On November 18, 1991, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush.[6] He was also bestowed with several other awards including the Hoover Medal (1971)[16], the Albert Einstein Medal (1971), the 1975 MIT Bronze Beaver Award[17], and the Eugene McDermott Award (1980)[18] among others.[5]

El Centro de Bellas Artes de Puerto Rico was renamed the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré (Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center) in 1994.

Major roads in Puerto Rico bear his name. Puerto Rico Highway 52 (PR-52) is also known as Autopista Luis A. Ferré (Luis A. Ferré Highway). Avenida Las Américas, which is part of Puerto Rico Highway 163 (PR-163) in Ponce, Puerto Rico is also known as Bulevar Luis A. Ferré (Luis A. Ferré Boulevard).

The sculptor Tomás Batista was commisined to create two busts.[6] One is displayed at the Museo de Arte de Ponce (Ponce Museum of Art) and the other is inside the Capitol of Puerto Rico.

An Act of the US Congress named the historic United States Courthouse and Post Office Building in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the Luis A. Ferré United States Courthouse and Post Office Building in 2004.

Research Notes

1. According to his Christening record (Source 1 below), Wikipedia, and all of the online sources, Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was born 17 February 1904. However, his Birth record states he was born 28 June 1904.[19] The source of the discrepanacy is unknown.

2. It was not until 13 January 1941 that people born in Puerto Rico on or after 11 April 1899, and prior to 13 January 1941 were declared to be citizens of the United States. Those born after 13 January 1941 became citizens at birth.[20]

3. Other sources such as [Museo de Arte de Ponce] and [US Bankruptcy Court District of Puerto Rico] state that the library was founded and chaired by Don Luis.

Sources

  1. ↑ Christening: "Puerto Rico, registros parroquiales, 1645-1969", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DCL-B5YC : 4 December 2021), Luís Alberto, 1 de enero de 1905.
  2. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VW2M-X9B : accessed 6 March 2023), Luis A Ferrer Y Aguayo in household of Antonio Ferrer Y Bacallado, Ponce Ward 5, Ponce, Puerto Rico; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 628, sheet 5B, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1774; FHL microfilm 1,375,787.
  3. ↑ 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9WC-WQW : 4 February 2021), Luis A Ferrer Y Aguayo in entry for Antonio Ferre Y Bagayado, 1920.
  4. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6Z6-ZHC : accessed 6 March 2023), Luis Ferre Y Aguayo in household of Antonio Ferre Collon, Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 15, sheet 4B, line 63, family 66, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2657; FHL microfilm 2,342,391.
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 US Courts: “Luis A. Ferré Biography: District of Puerto Rico: United States Bankruptcy Court.” Luis A. Ferré Biography | District of Puerto Rico | United States Bankruptcy Court. Accessed March 6, 2023. https://www.prb.uscourts.gov/?q=luis-ferr%C3%A9-biography.
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_A._Ferr%C3%A9
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Art Museum of Ponce: https://museoarteponce.org/en/luis-a-ferre/
  8. ↑ Naturalization: "Puerto Rico, Naturalization Records, 1897-1985", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCW-QFRT : 27 August 2020), Luis Alberto Ferre Aguayo, 1926.
  9. ↑ Marriage: "Puerto Rico, Registro Civil, 1805-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJC-MVZ3 : 10 September 2021), Luis Albero Ferré Aguayo and Lorencita Ramirez de Arellano, ; citing Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Departamento de Salud and Igesia Catolica (Puerto Rico Department of Health and Catholic churches), Toa Alta.
  10. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:KFJY-JN5 : Thu Aug 04 19:20:20 UTC 2022), Entry for Rosario Ferrer Y Ramírez and Hercilio Feliciano Y Guzmán, 1940.
  11. ↑ Geneanet: https://gw.geneanet.org/jorgetorotoro?lang=en&n=de+jesus+rosa&oc=0&p=teodomira+tiody&type=fiche
  12. ↑ Obituary: "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKWG-VZQ5 : accessed 12 March 2023), Tiody De Jesus in entry for Luis A Or Don Luis Ferre, Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, 24 Oct 2003; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Record, The, born-digital text.
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 https://academia-lab.com/encyclopedia/luis-a-ferre/
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 National Governors Association: https://www.nga.org/governor/luis-a-ferre/
  15. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8006864/luis-alberto-ferr%C3%A9_aguayo: accessed 12 March 2023), memorial page for Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo (17 Feb 1904–21 Oct 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8006864, citing Las Mercedes Memorial Park, Ponce Municipality, Puerto Rico, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
  16. ↑ Hoover Medal Recipient: https://www.asme.org/about-asme/honors-awards/joint-awards/hoover-awards/past
  17. ↑ MIT Bronze Beaver Award Winner (PDF)
  18. ↑ McDermott Recipient: https://arts.mit.edu/mcdermott/recipients/
  19. ↑ Birth: "Puerto Rico, Registro Civil, 1805-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJ8-LQ6L : 31 December 2020), Luis Alberto Ferré y Aguayo, 28 Jun 1904; citing Ponce, Puerto Rico, Estados Unidos de América, Puerto Rico Departamento de Salud and Igesia Catolica (Puerto Rico Department of Health and Catholic churches), Toa Alta.
  20. ↑ US Code: 8 USC 1402: Persons born in Puerto Rico on or after April 11, 1899. Office of the Law Revision Counsel United States Code. Accessed March 5, 2023. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title8-section1402&num=0&edition=prelim#sourcecredit.

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Gov. Luis A. Ferré
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Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded in 1991
Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded in 1991


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