Occupation Businessman | Nationality Puerto Rican | |
Full Name José Antonio Ferré Aguayo Born September 12, 1902 ( 1902-09-12 ) Ponce, Puerto Rico Parent(s) Antonio Ferré and Mary Aguayo Died 15 September 1990, Puerto Rico | ||
José Antonio Ferré Aguayo (September 12, 1902 – September 15, 1990) was a Puerto Rican businessman, industrialist and government official. He was a brother of Luis Ferré, who served as Governor of Puerto Rico, and Isolina Ferré, the "Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico". Ferré was also the father of Maurice Ferré, a former six-term mayor of Miami, Florida.
Contents
Early life and education
Ferré was born in Ponce and the son of Cuban born Antonio Ferré Bacallao. After attending Morristown-School (now Morristown-Beard School) in Morristown, New Jersey, he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts in 1924. Ferré later served on the Board of Trustees of the school alongside Edward Kennedy. He earned his master's degree in business administration from the University of Miami.
Industrial development
During the years following World War II, Ferré grew his wealth by purchasing bankrupt glass, cement, and carton factories. At one point, his family empire owned 80 corporations in Puerto Rico, the United States, Venezuela, and Panama.
In 1965, Ferré's real estate company, the Ferré Florida Corporation, financed the construction of the 30-story New World Tower in the Central Business District in Miami. At the time, the building, which cost $6 million to construct, stood as the tallest in Florida. Its construction represented part of a broader effort to revitalize Miami.
Legacy
In 1990, U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida's 27th congressional district honored the legacy and impact of Ferré during remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The tribute recognized Ferré's vision and industrial pursuits.