Manuel Ayau
Encyclopedia
Dr. Manuel F. Ayau Cordón (December 27, 1925 - August 4, 2010) was the Founder of the Universidad Francisco Marroquín
in Guatemala, a leading private University in Latin America. He was born in Guatemala City
, on December 27, 1925. After diverse studies, he obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University
in 1950, an L.H.D. from Hillsdale College
in 1973, and an LL.D. from Northwood University
in 1994.
n industrialists for over forty years in the production of industrial gases and hydro-electric energy. Dr. Ayau has also served on the board of directors of several different companies, including IBM
in Latin America and the Guatemalan stock market, of which he was founding President.
In 1959 he also founded the Center for Economic and Social Studies (CEES) in Guatemala, to analyze the fundaments and philosophy of free society. In 1972 he was instrumental in founding the Francisco Marroquín University
, of which he was the first President until 1988.
A member of the Mont Pelerin Society
since 1964, he was its President from 1978-80. He was on the board of directors of the Liberty Fund in Indianapolis
and he was also a trustee of the Foundation for Economic Education
in New York.
In Guatemala, Dr. Ayau entered politics as a member of congress from 1970–74, and as presidential candidate in the 1990 elections.
Twice he has formed part of the Central Bank council and has been president of two different commercial banks, Vice-President of the National Electrification Institute (INDE), trustee of the Philadelphia Society, and Honorary Member of the engineering society "Tau Beta Pi
".
His last contribution to Guatemala was as President of Asociacion Civil proReforma del Estado de Guatemala.
In 2004 he was awarded by the Mont Pelerin Society for his contributions to freedom. Manuel Ayau obtained the Adam Smith Award, from the Association for Private Enterprise Education in 2005. He obtained the Juan de Mariana Award, from the Fundacion Juan de Mariana, in Spain, in 2008. That year, at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Applicadas, he was appointed Honorary Professor.
Liberty Fund podcast from 2001, [A Conversation with Manuel Ayau] http://65.203.85.21/Home3/Audio.php?recordID=0517.06
Universidad Francisco Marroquín
Universidad Francisco Marroquín is a private, secular, university in Guatemala City, Guatemala. According to the school's website, "the mission of Universidad Francisco Marroquín is to teach and disseminate the ethical, legal and economic principles of a sociey of free and responsible persons."...
in Guatemala, a leading private University in Latin America. He was born in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, on December 27, 1925. After diverse studies, he obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 1950, an L.H.D. from Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
in 1973, and an LL.D. from Northwood University
Northwood University
Northwood University is a private university with multiple locations. The school has four residential campuses: Midland, Michigan , Cedar Hill, Texas , West Palm Beach, Florida and a joint program with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland, began in 2001...
in 1994.
Scholarly and Laboral Contributions
His many entrepreneurial activities include that of CEO of "Samboro, S.A.", a company dedicated to the production of ceramic tiles; and of directing a group of GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n industrialists for over forty years in the production of industrial gases and hydro-electric energy. Dr. Ayau has also served on the board of directors of several different companies, including IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
in Latin America and the Guatemalan stock market, of which he was founding President.
In 1959 he also founded the Center for Economic and Social Studies (CEES) in Guatemala, to analyze the fundaments and philosophy of free society. In 1972 he was instrumental in founding the Francisco Marroquín University
Universidad Francisco Marroquín
Universidad Francisco Marroquín is a private, secular, university in Guatemala City, Guatemala. According to the school's website, "the mission of Universidad Francisco Marroquín is to teach and disseminate the ethical, legal and economic principles of a sociey of free and responsible persons."...
, of which he was the first President until 1988.
A member of the Mont Pelerin Society
Mont Pelerin Society
The Mont Pelerin Society is an international organization composed of economists , philosophers, historians, intellectuals, business leaders, and others who favour classical liberalism...
since 1964, he was its President from 1978-80. He was on the board of directors of the Liberty Fund in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and he was also a trustee of the Foundation for Economic Education
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
in New York.
In Guatemala, Dr. Ayau entered politics as a member of congress from 1970–74, and as presidential candidate in the 1990 elections.
Twice he has formed part of the Central Bank council and has been president of two different commercial banks, Vice-President of the National Electrification Institute (INDE), trustee of the Philadelphia Society, and Honorary Member of the engineering society "Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
".
His last contribution to Guatemala was as President of Asociacion Civil proReforma del Estado de Guatemala.
In 2004 he was awarded by the Mont Pelerin Society for his contributions to freedom. Manuel Ayau obtained the Adam Smith Award, from the Association for Private Enterprise Education in 2005. He obtained the Juan de Mariana Award, from the Fundacion Juan de Mariana, in Spain, in 2008. That year, at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Applicadas, he was appointed Honorary Professor.
Works
Among his most important works are “Como Mejorar el Nivel de Vida", "De Robinson a Viernes", "El Comercio", "La Década Perdida", "El Proceso Económico", "No Tenemos que Seguir Siendo Pobres para Siempre" and "Un Juego que no suma cero". He has been published widely in Guatemala and Latin America, as well as in the USA, including in "Vision", "The Wall Street Journal", and "The Freeman".Liberty Fund podcast from 2001, [A Conversation with Manuel Ayau] http://65.203.85.21/Home3/Audio.php?recordID=0517.06