Rafael Hernández Colón (born October 24, 1936) is a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, who was the fourth democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico for 12 years (1973-1977, 1985-1993).

Education

Hernández Colón obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University in 1956 where he graduated with honors. In 1956, he obtained his degree in Law from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, graduating magna cum laude and as valedictorian of his class. He became a Senator in 1968, and later ascended to become the President of the Senate.

Political Career

Hernández Colón's party, the Popular Democratic Party, or Partido Popular Democratico (PPD), saw a lot of potential in the young political star, and made him their President and candidate for Governor in the 1972 elections. He had enjoyed a great friendship with former governor Luis Muñoz Marín, and this helped him in his quest for the governishp He decisively beat then Governor Luis A. Ferré, another Ponce native, to become, at 36, the youngest governor of Puerto Rico.

First Term

Hernández Colón made an effort to get more international firms to invest in Puerto Rico and opposed President Gerald Ford's wishes to make Puerto Rico the 51st state. But during his first term, the island passed through some economic problems and most of the blame fell into Hernández Colón. Hernández lost in 1976 to then Mayor of San Juan Carlos Romero Barcelo, and again in 1980. The 1980 elections, however, were the closest in Puerto Rican history (Carlos Romero Barceló only won by a 3,000 vote margin) and Hernández Colón was sure he would win back his place as Governor in 1984.

Second Term

Hernández Colón ran again in the elections of 1984 and was victorious by a landslide. He took office in January of the following year. This time around, Hernández Colón had to face different problems and situations, but the Puerto Rican public thought he did a good job and gave him their votes again in the 1988 election, although rival Baltasar Corrada del Río did decently on the polls. Hernández Colón became a travelling governor during his third and last tenure as governor, and he sponsored trade contracts with such countries as Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Spain and Canada. His efforts to improve the ever changing Puerto Rican economy took him to all continents, and he also sponsored Puerto Rico's bid to get the 2004 Olympic Games. Hernández Colón and his wife returned to Puerto Rico after she was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away early in 2003. On June, 1991, Hernández announced that he would not seek another term as Governor. Instead, the PPD chose Senator Victoria Munoz Mendoza as their candidate.

Currently, Hernández Colón is retired from politics, but is always available for any politcal issue and his advice is sought by many politicians.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans