Oswaldo López Arellano
Encyclopedia
Oswaldo Enrique López Arellano (30 June 1921 – 16 May 2010) was a two-time President
of Honduras
, first from 1963 to 1971 and again from 1972 to 1975. He gained power both times via military force.
He was born in Danlí in the department of El Paraíso to an influential family, son of Enrique López and Carlota Arellano. He attended the American School of Tegucigalpa
where he learned to speak fluent English. He joined the Army
at eighteen, graduated as a pilot from the Honduran Air Force School, and spent 1942-1945 in the U.S. state of Arizona studying mechanical aviation. López served as a colonel
for a long time and eventually rose to the rank of general
. He married Gloria Figueroa and they had five children: Gloria Carolina, Oswaldo, Enrique, Leonel, and José Luis.
López served briefly on a military junta
during 1957, which resigned after elections were held. He served as president for the first time from 3 October 1963 until 7 June 1971, taking office when he seized power in the 1963 Honduran coup d'état
, 10 days before presidential elections were due. He then allowed further elections (Honduran general election, 1971
) to take place in April 1971 that saw Ramón Ernesto Cruz
come to power. On 4 December 1972, López again seized power, in the 1972 Honduran coup d'état.
In 1975, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission exposed a scheme by United Brands Company to bribe President López with US$1.25 million, with the promise of another $1.25 million upon the reduction of certain banana export taxes. Trading in United Brands stock was halted, and on 22 April 1975 López was ousted in a military coup led by his fellow General Juan Alberto Melgar
, in the 1975 Honduran coup d'état
. This scandal is known in Honduras as "Bananagate".
López was a businessman. He owned several businesses in Central America. His eldest son, Oswaldo, died in 2003. He was the owner of TAN-SAHSA
, the now defunct Honduran air carrier.
Lopez died on 16 May 2010 while undergoing surgery for prostate cancer
.
President of Honduras
This page lists the Presidents of Honduras.Colonial Honduras declared its independence from Spain on 15 September 1821. From 5 January 1822 to 1 July 1823, Honduras was part of the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide....
of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, first from 1963 to 1971 and again from 1972 to 1975. He gained power both times via military force.
He was born in Danlí in the department of El Paraíso to an influential family, son of Enrique López and Carlota Arellano. He attended the American School of Tegucigalpa
American School of Tegucigalpa
The American School of Tegucigalpa is a private, coeducational international school located in the affluent neighborhood of Lomas de Guijarro which overlooks Tegucigalpa...
where he learned to speak fluent English. He joined the Army
Military of Honduras
-pre-1979:During the twentieth century, Honduran military leaders frequently became presidents, either through elections or by coups d'état. General Tiburcio Carías Andino was elected in 1932, he later on called a constituent assembly that allowed him to be reelected, and his rule became more...
at eighteen, graduated as a pilot from the Honduran Air Force School, and spent 1942-1945 in the U.S. state of Arizona studying mechanical aviation. López served as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
for a long time and eventually rose to the rank of general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. He married Gloria Figueroa and they had five children: Gloria Carolina, Oswaldo, Enrique, Leonel, and José Luis.
López served briefly on a military junta
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
during 1957, which resigned after elections were held. He served as president for the first time from 3 October 1963 until 7 June 1971, taking office when he seized power in the 1963 Honduran coup d'état
1963 Honduran coup d'état
The 1963 Honduran coup d'état took place in October 1963, ten days before presidential elections were due. Oswaldo López Arellano overthrew Ramón Villeda Morales....
, 10 days before presidential elections were due. He then allowed further elections (Honduran general election, 1971
Honduran general election, 1971
A general election was held in Honduras on 28 March 1971. Voters went to the polls to elect a new President of the Republic and a new Congress....
) to take place in April 1971 that saw Ramón Ernesto Cruz
Ramón Ernesto Cruz Uclés
Ramón Ernesto Cruz Uclés was the President of Honduras from 7 June 1971 till 4 December 1972.Cruz was born in San Juan de Flores in Honduras. His Father was Carlos Alberto Cruz and his mother Elisa Ucles Rosales. He was the eldest son, his brothers were: Herlinda, Carlos, Raul, Rene and Marta...
come to power. On 4 December 1972, López again seized power, in the 1972 Honduran coup d'état.
In 1975, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission exposed a scheme by United Brands Company to bribe President López with US$1.25 million, with the promise of another $1.25 million upon the reduction of certain banana export taxes. Trading in United Brands stock was halted, and on 22 April 1975 López was ousted in a military coup led by his fellow General Juan Alberto Melgar
Juan Alberto Melgar Castro
Juan Alberto Melgar Castro was a general of the Honduran military who served as the head of state of Honduras from April 22, 1975 to August 7, 1979, when he was removed from power by others in the military....
, in the 1975 Honduran coup d'état
1975 Honduran coup d'état
The 1975 Honduran coup d'état took place on 22 April 1975, with Oswaldo López Arellano being ousted in a military coup led by his fellow General Juan Alberto Melgar Castro. The coup was prompted in part by the "Bananagate" scandal, exposed by the U.S...
. This scandal is known in Honduras as "Bananagate".
López was a businessman. He owned several businesses in Central America. His eldest son, Oswaldo, died in 2003. He was the owner of TAN-SAHSA
Sahsa
Servicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
, the now defunct Honduran air carrier.
Lopez died on 16 May 2010 while undergoing surgery for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
.
See also
- Union of Banana Exporting CountriesUnion of Banana Exporting CountriesThe Union of Banana Exporting Countries was a Central/South American cartel inspired by OPEC. In 1974 Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama joined together in an attempt to form a banana growers' cartel in respect of exports to the North American market. The...