Andrés Grillasca Salas

Andrés Grillasca Salas
Mayor Andrés Grillasca Salas
Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
In office 1941–1956
Preceded by	José Tormos Diego
Succeeded by	José Dapena Laguna
Personal details
Born	6 January 1888 Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
Died	1 December 1973(1973-12-01) (aged 85) Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Profession	politician

Andrés Grillasca Salas (6 January 1888 - 1 December 1973) was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1941 to 1956. He was born in the neighboring town of Adjuntas in 1888. Until the recent administration of Rafael Cordero Santiago, Grillasca Salas had the distinction of being the longest serving mayor of the city (16 years). He was known to always dress in white clothes.

Grillasca defeated future governor of Puerto Rico Luis A. Ferre in the bid for mayor of Ponce in 1940.

In 1947 Grillasca established the Ponce Free School of Music. The school is now known as the Juan Morel Campos Music Institute.

Grillasca Salas also had an interest in sports, and in 1949 he inaugurated the Francisco Montaner Stadium in Ponce. He also established a fund for the creation of a second new sports venue in Ponce. To accomplish it, he established a special contribution for every sports activity held in the city. Still short of funds, the project was not developed for many years. However, during the administration of mayor Eduardo Ruberté Bisó (1964–1968), new interest on the project developed and construction started on what was then called the Ponce Coliseum. It was later renamed the Juan "Pachín" Vicens Auditorium, in honor of the greatest figure in Ponce basketball.

Grillasca Salas is also remembered for building, in 1956, what is to this day the only monument in the Antilles dedicated to the abolition of slavery. The monument is now surrounded by a park with graceful gardens and is located next to an outdoors acoustic amphitheater, and is called Abolition Park.