- Oswaldo López Arellano
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Oswaldo López Head of State of Honduras In office
3 October 1963 – 7 June 1971Preceded by Ramón Villeda Succeeded by Ramón Ernesto Cruz Head of State of Honduras In office
4 December 1972 – 22 April 1975Preceded by Ramón Ernesto Cruz Succeeded by Juan Alberto Melgar Personal details Born 30 June 1921
Danlí, El ParaísoDied 16 May 2010 (aged 88)
TegucigalpaPolitical party National Party Occupation General, Statesman Religion Roman Catholic[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
References
- Pauly, David and Thomas, Rich (1975) "The Great Banana Bribe" Newsweek 21 April 1975, p. 76;
- Obituary (Spanish)
See also
Political offices Preceded by
Ramón VilledaPresident of Honduras
1963–1971Succeeded by
Ramón Ernesto CruzPreceded by
Ramón Ernesto CruzPresident of Honduras
1972–1975Succeeded by
Juan Alberto Melgar
Head of StatePresidents and heads of state of Honduras Herrera · Milla · Bendaña · Zelaya · Bustamante · Morazán · Vigil Cocaña · Morazán · Valle · Marquez · Milla Guevara · Rivera · Martinez Salinas · Herrera · Martinez Salinas · Matute · Ferrera · Council of Ministers · Ferrera · Council of Ministers · Chávez · Council of Ministers · Lindo · Cabañas · Guardiola · Medina · Arias · Leiva · Soto · Council of Ministers · Bográn · Leiva · Vásquez · Bonilla · Sierra · Arias Boquín · Bonilla · Dávila · Bertrand · Bonilla · Bertrand · Aguirre · Mejía Colindres · Bográn · López Gutiérrez · Tosta · Paz Barahona · Mejía Colindres · Carías Andino · Gálvez · Lozano Díaz · Military Government Council · Villeda Morales · López Arellano · Cruz Uclés · López Arellano · Melgar · Paz García · Suazo Córdova · Azcona · Callejas · Reina · Flores · Maduro · Zelaya Rosales · Micheletti · Lobo Sosa ·
Categories:- 1921 births
- 2010 deaths
- People from El Paraíso Department
- Cancer deaths in Honduras
- Deaths from prostate cancer
- Leaders ousted by a coup
- Leaders who took power by coup
- Presidents of Honduras
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