Quick Facts
Biography
José Tormos Diego (born ca. 1878 - died ca. 1976) was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1937 to 1941. He is best remembered for under his administration the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party received a permit for a peaceful march, which resulted in the Ponce Massacre by Insular Police under authority supplied by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Governor Blanton Winship.
Mayoral selection
Antonio M. Delgado had been elected mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1936. However he died before taking office. Jose Tormos Diego was selected by the standing political party to replace Mr. Delgado.
Ponce massacre
Tormos Diego is best known for under his administration the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party received a permit for a peaceful march, which resulted in the Ponce Massacre by Insular Police under authority supplied by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Governor Blanton Winship. Tormos Diego also rebuilt Teatro La Perla during his administration.
Legacy
Tormos Diego rebuilt the historic Teatro La Perla in 1940. During the project he also reconditioned the Teatro La Perla northern annex to be used as headquarters of the municipal public library. In Ponce there is a public housing development named after him.