- Galo Plaza
Galo Plaza Lasso (1906 – 1987) was president of
Ecuador fromSeptember 1 ,1948 toAugust 31 ,1952 , and secretary general of theOrganization of American States (O.A.S.) from 1968 to 1975. He was the ambassador from Ecuador tothe United States from 1944 to 1946 and signed the charter ofthe United Nations (the UN) in 1945 .Plaza was born in
New York City in 1906 at theMarlton House during the exile of his father, the general and ex-president Leónidas Plaza. His mother was Avelina Lasso Ascásubi. He studiedagriculture at the University of Maryland, economics at theUniversity of California, Berkeley and at theGeorgetown University School of Foreign Service. He died inQuito January 28 ,1987 . As president he managed to foment the agricultural exports of Ecuador during his government, creating economic stability during his government. He foundedColegio Americano de Quito in 1940. During his presidency occurred theearthquake ofAmbato , in which approximately eight thousand people died, and the damages affected the provinces ofTungurahua andCotopaxi , especially in the city of Ambato and towns ofPelileo andPillaro . In addition he was the first elected president in twenty-eight years to complete his term. Galo Plaza has been recognized for his performance as mediator for the UN in the conflicts inLebanon (1958), the Congo (1960) andCyprus (1964-1965). As Secretary General of the O.A.S. he obtained a reputation for leadership.External links
* [http://www.presidencia.gov.ec/modulos.asp?id=28/ Official Website of the Ecuadorian Government about the country President's History]
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