Justo A. Méndez Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Ing. Justo A. Méndez Rodriguez (born November 8, 1917) is a former Senator in the Puerto Rico Legislature.
. He later studied Engineering at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Mayaguez, there he joined the Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha
Fraternity. He married Provi O. and had three children.
He began his career as a Chemical analyst at the Central Plata in 1941, then he was Chief of chemicals at the Central Los Canos, in Arecibo in 1943. He was a member of the US armed forces from 1943 to 1946, later he worked as Gen. Sipt. at Central Los Canos from 1946 to 1950. Afterward on he was Executive Vice-President of the Central Fed. Savings & Loan Assn. from 1958 to 1964. After that he was President of San Martin Mortgage & investment Corp. from 1964 till 1967.
He served as President of the Junta Planificacion of Arecibo; and was a former member of the Junta of Corp Dirs. of Urban Renovation of Housing, and the Junta Dirs. Of the Housing Bank.
for Senate President when the first vote in the senate was tied 12 to 12, yet in the second round of votes he lost by one vote. The reason for the tie was that some PPD senators such as Lionel Fernández Méndez
voted in blank.
From 1968 till 1972 he was the Minority Leader
in the Senate
, but after the 1972 elections Carlos Romero Barcelo
suggested that José Menéndez Monroig
be selected to that position instead him. He was also Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico. From May 22, 1986 til December 31, 1988 Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
.
Education and career
He was born in Lares, Puerto RicoLares, Puerto Rico
Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
. He later studied Engineering at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Mayaguez, there he joined the Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha
Phi Sigma Alpha
Phi Sigma Alpha Fraternity commonly known as La Sigma, is a Puerto Rican fraternity established originally as the Sigma Delta Alpha Fraternity on October 22, 1928 at the University of Puerto Rico by 12 students and a professor...
Fraternity. He married Provi O. and had three children.
He began his career as a Chemical analyst at the Central Plata in 1941, then he was Chief of chemicals at the Central Los Canos, in Arecibo in 1943. He was a member of the US armed forces from 1943 to 1946, later he worked as Gen. Sipt. at Central Los Canos from 1946 to 1950. Afterward on he was Executive Vice-President of the Central Fed. Savings & Loan Assn. from 1958 to 1964. After that he was President of San Martin Mortgage & investment Corp. from 1964 till 1967.
He served as President of the Junta Planificacion of Arecibo; and was a former member of the Junta of Corp Dirs. of Urban Renovation of Housing, and the Junta Dirs. Of the Housing Bank.
Political career
He was elected Senator for the first time in 1968. In the 1968 elections he almost beat out PPD Rafael Hernandez ColonRafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
for Senate President when the first vote in the senate was tied 12 to 12, yet in the second round of votes he lost by one vote. The reason for the tie was that some PPD senators such as Lionel Fernández Méndez
Lionel Fernández Méndez
Lionel Fernández Méndez was an attorney and Puerto Rican politician. He was a member of the Constitutional Assembly that created the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico . He was a senator for the Popular Democratic Party from 1949 to 1972. He was a member of Phi Sigma Alpha.-References:...
voted in blank.
From 1968 till 1972 he was the Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
in the Senate
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
, but after the 1972 elections Carlos Romero Barcelo
Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...
suggested that José Menéndez Monroig
José Menéndez Monroig
José Menéndez Monroig is a former Senator in the Puerto Rico Legislature serving from 1968 till 1976. After the 1972 Puerto Rican elections Carlos Romero Barcelo suggested that he be selected Minority Leader in the Senate instead of Justo Méndez who had occupied that position in the past four...
be selected to that position instead him. He was also Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico. From May 22, 1986 til December 31, 1988 Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources was created by Law 23 of June 20, 1972, during the governorship of Luis A. Ferré. In 1973, as a gesture of bipartisanship, Ferré's successor, Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón appointed his predecessor's Puerto Rico Environmental Quality...
.