Alfonso Valdés Cobián
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Valdés Cobián was an industrialist, banker, sportsman and politician. Valdés Cobián was a cofounder of Cervecería India, Inc., currently Puerto Rico's largest beer brewery.
to Ramon and Encarnación Cobián. When he was a child his family moved to the United States
and lived in Manhattan
. While living there he attended the Hamilton institute
, a preparatory school, and Columbia University
, where he received a degree in electrical engineering in 1911.
The family returned to Puerto Rico and in 1910, his father, Ramón Valdés founded and organized the "Mayaguez Light, Power and Ice Company", a utility in the city of Mayagüez. The elder Valdés named Alfonso the company's vice president in 1915. The Government took over all power generation in the late 1930s and the company is now operated by "La Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico" (The Puerto Rico Electric Energy Authority).
. The word "Yagüez" is Taino
for "Place of pure and clear waters" . Valdés Cobián's brother Sabino, took a sample of the waters of Mayagüez to the Wallestein Laboratory in New York which confirmed the quality of the waters for the elaboration of beer.
Valdés Cobián and his brothers, Sabino and Ramón decided to build a brewery in Mayagüez and on November 2, 1937, they founded the "Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico" (The Puerto Rico Brewery Company) which was later renamed Cervecería India (Indian Brewery). The company competed with two other native beer breweries, "Real" and "Corona" (no relation to the Mexican beer), which no longer exist. Valdés Cobián, as chairman and president, successfully led his company converting it into Puerto Rico's largest beer brewery and manufacture of canned and bottled soft drinks.
Besides his chairmanship of Cervecería India, Valdés Cobián held the Orange Crush
soft-drink franchise and was president of the Ana Maria Sugar Company and the Insular Feed Mill. For 25 years he was the major stockholder and board chairman of the Banco Credito y Ahorro Ponceno
, which at the time was the second largest bank in Puerto Rico.
(Mayagüez Indians), the most successful team in the history of the Puerto Rican League. The team was founded in 1938, and once the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
(LBPPR in Spanish) was created, the Mayagüez team became a part of it. A management team led by Valdés Cobián owned the team during its initial years.
. Valdés Cobián lived in Villa Caparra, a San Juan suburb. On February 8, 1988, Valdés Cobián died in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, after suffering a heart attack two days earlier, at the age of 98. Valdés Cobián was buried in Bayamón's Porta Coeli Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Grace García, whom he married on August 14, 1939, two daughters, Grace Marie, Encarnita Quinlan and a son, Alfonso Jr., and five grandchildren. After his death, his wife became the president of brewery until her retirement in 2002, when her granddaughter, Camalia Valdés
assumed the presidency of the company.
Early years
Valdés Cobián was born in Bayamon, Puerto RicoBayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
to Ramon and Encarnación Cobián. When he was a child his family moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and lived in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. While living there he attended the Hamilton institute
Hamilton institute
The Hamilton Institute is a multi-disciplinary research centre at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.The Hamilton Institute was formally established in November 2001 under the first round of funding, by Science Foundation Ireland and officially opened by Bill Harris, SFI Director-General...
, a preparatory school, and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he received a degree in electrical engineering in 1911.
The family returned to Puerto Rico and in 1910, his father, Ramón Valdés founded and organized the "Mayaguez Light, Power and Ice Company", a utility in the city of Mayagüez. The elder Valdés named Alfonso the company's vice president in 1915. The Government took over all power generation in the late 1930s and the company is now operated by "La Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico" (The Puerto Rico Electric Energy Authority).
Cervecería India
Mayagüez is known as "La Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" (The City of the Pure Waters) because of the quality of its waters. The nickname originated because of the quality of the waters from the Yagüez RiverYagüez River
The Rio Yagüez is a river located in western Puerto Rico.The Rio Yaguez originates at 1,200 feet above sea-level in the Urayoán Mountains to the south-east of Las Marias and to the north-east of Maricao...
. The word "Yagüez" is Taino
Taíno language
Taíno, an Arawakan language, was the principal language of the Caribbean islands at the time of the Spanish Conquest, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys, and the Lesser Antilles...
for "Place of pure and clear waters" . Valdés Cobián's brother Sabino, took a sample of the waters of Mayagüez to the Wallestein Laboratory in New York which confirmed the quality of the waters for the elaboration of beer.
Valdés Cobián and his brothers, Sabino and Ramón decided to build a brewery in Mayagüez and on November 2, 1937, they founded the "Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico" (The Puerto Rico Brewery Company) which was later renamed Cervecería India (Indian Brewery). The company competed with two other native beer breweries, "Real" and "Corona" (no relation to the Mexican beer), which no longer exist. Valdés Cobián, as chairman and president, successfully led his company converting it into Puerto Rico's largest beer brewery and manufacture of canned and bottled soft drinks.
Besides his chairmanship of Cervecería India, Valdés Cobián held the Orange Crush
Orange Crush
Crush is a carbonated soft drink brand, originally marketed as an orange soda, which was invented by California beverage and extract chemist Neil C. Ward. Most flavors of Crush are caffeine-free.-History:...
soft-drink franchise and was president of the Ana Maria Sugar Company and the Insular Feed Mill. For 25 years he was the major stockholder and board chairman of the Banco Credito y Ahorro Ponceno
Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (building)
The Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño building , a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico, was the first and main office of the famed Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño , and represents one of the last examples of the once popular turn-of-the-century eclectic architecture. The building was listed on the...
, which at the time was the second largest bank in Puerto Rico.
Team owner
Valdés Cobián was a founder of the Puerto Rican winter baseball league and owned the Indios de MayagüezIndios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
(Mayagüez Indians), the most successful team in the history of the Puerto Rican League. The team was founded in 1938, and once the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
The Puerto Rico Baseball League formerly known as Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico or LBPPR, is the main professional baseball league in Puerto Rico. In 2007, the LBPPR recessed for the first time since its creation...
(LBPPR in Spanish) was created, the Mayagüez team became a part of it. A management team led by Valdés Cobián owned the team during its initial years.
Politician
Valdés Cobián was elected in 1917 to Puerto Rico's first Legislature as a Representative to the Camera from the district of Mayagüez, position in which he served until 1928. In 1928 he won his first of three terms as a Commonwealth Senator, and also became president of the Puerto Rican Republican Party.Later years
In 1960 he was president of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers AssociationPuerto Rico Manufacturers Association
The Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association or "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico" was established in 1928 as a non-profit, voluntary and private organization with the intention of joining in the same organization the manufacturer and service industries in Puerto Rico in the same...
. Valdés Cobián lived in Villa Caparra, a San Juan suburb. On February 8, 1988, Valdés Cobián died in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, after suffering a heart attack two days earlier, at the age of 98. Valdés Cobián was buried in Bayamón's Porta Coeli Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Grace García, whom he married on August 14, 1939, two daughters, Grace Marie, Encarnita Quinlan and a son, Alfonso Jr., and five grandchildren. After his death, his wife became the president of brewery until her retirement in 2002, when her granddaughter, Camalia Valdés
Camalia Valdés
Camalia Valdés , is the President and CEO of Cerveceria India, Inc., Puerto Rico's largest brewery.-Early years:Valdés was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her grandfather was Alfonso Valdés Cobián, who in 1937, together with his brothers, Sabino and Ramón Valdés founded Cerveceria India, Inc. in...
assumed the presidency of the company.
Legacy
The City of Mayagüez honored his memory by naming the street where the Cervecería India Inc. is located Avenida (Blvd.) Alfonso Valdez.See also
- Cervecería India
- Indios de MayagüezIndios de MayagüezThe Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
- List of famous Puerto Ricans