Galo Plaza

Galo Plaza Lasso (1906 – 1987) was president of Ecuador from September 1, 1948 to August 31, 1952, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States (O.A.S.) from 1968 to 1975 . He was the ambassador from Ecuador to the United States from 1944 to 1946 and signed the charter of the United Nations (the UN) in 1945 . He was born in New York City in 1906 at the Marlton House during the exile of his father, the general and ex-president Leonidas Plaza Gutiérrez. His mother was Avelina Lasso. He studied agriculture at the University of Maryland, economics at the University of California, Berkeley and at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He died in Quito January 28, 1987. As president he managed to foment the agricultural exports of Ecuador during his government, creating economic stability during his government. He founded Colegio Americano de Quito in 1940. During his presidency occurred the earthquake of Ambato, in which approximately eight thousand people died, and the damages affected the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi, especially in the city of Ambato and towns of Pelileo and Pillaro. In addition he was the first elected president in twenty-eight years to complete his term. Galo Plaza Lasso has been recognized for his performance as mediator for the UN in the conflicts in Lebanon (1958), the Congo (1960) and Cyprus (1964-1965). As Secretary General of the O.A.S. he obtained a reputation for leadership.