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Biography of Oswaldo Lopez ArellanoName: Oswaldo Lopez ArellanoBirth Date: June 30, 1921 Death Date: N/A Place of Birth: Danli, Honduras Nationality: Honduran Gender: Male Occupations: military officer, president Oswaldo Lopez Arellano Oswaldo Lopez Arellano (born 1921) was the dominant military officer in Honduras from 1957 to 1975. He twice served as the country's president.As president of Honduras during most of 1963-1975, Oswaldo Lopez Arellano faced many problems that had been building in the country throughout the twentieth century. Honduras was largely a "banana republic," dominated by American companies, who exploited peasant labor. Honduran rulers, including Lopez Arellano, were challenged to industrialize and diversify the economy, redistribute agricultural land, and appease repressed workers.Lopez Arellano was born June 30, 1921 in Danli, Honduras to Enrique Lopez and Carlota Arellano. He was educated at the American School in Tegucigalpa and learned to speak fluent English. In 1939, Lopez Arellano enlisted in the army. Later he entered the Honduran Air Force School, where his brother was an instructor. He graduated as a pilot. In 1942, Lopiz Arellano was sent to an Arizona air force base to study mechanical aviation. He remained …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…many of the policies espoused by Villeda Morales ten years previously. Between 1972 and 1975, Lopez Arellano redistributed land to peasants and retired many senior army officers.In 1974, Lopez Arellano imposed higher taxes on the United Fruit Company's banana exports. The money was to be used to further agrarian reform and other economic development projects. Within a year, Lopez Arellano was forced out of office. He was accused accepting a .25 million bribe from the United Fruit Company to lower the tax. Lopez Arellano later served as president of the national airline, Servicio Aereo de Honduras, S.A. Further Reading Biographical Dictionary of Latin American and Caribbean Political Leaders, edited by Robert J. Alexander, Greenwood Press, 1988.Encyclopedia of Latin America, edited by Helen Delpar, McGraw-Hill, 1974.Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture, edited by Barbara A. Tenenbaum, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1996.Historic World Leaders, edited by Anne Commire, Gale Research, 1994.New York Times,October 4, 1963. |