This is a list of notable ''Ponceños'', people from

Ponce, Puerto Rico Ponce (, , , ) is both a city and a municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government. Ponce, Puerto Rico's most populated city outside the San Juan metropolitan area, was founded on 12 August 1 ...

. Listed here are people who were either born in Ponce or who were not born in Ponce, but who are or were longtime residents of the city – the so-called adopted sons and daughters of Ponce, and known in Spanish as "''Ponceñistas''". Ponce has also been the birthplace and the place of residence of many

Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans ( es, Puertorriqueños; or boricuas) are the people of Puerto Rico, the inhabitants, and citizens of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and their descendants. Overview The culture held in common by most Puerto Ricans is referred t ...

who became notable elsewhere. The following lists many of them as well. The list is arranged alphabetically by area of notability.

List of notable Ponceños by area of notability

The list is divided into categories and in some cases sub-categories which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted. For individuals notable in more than one field (such as "Luis A. Ferré" who is notable as a former "governor" and as an "industrialist") the entry is made under the field for which the individual is most noted. :

Top A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect. Once set in motion, a top will usually wobble for a few ...

– Actors, actresses, comedians and directors,

Architects An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

, Authors, playwrights and poets, Beauty queens and fashion models, Business people and industrialists, Civil rights and/or political activists,

Clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

, Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and opera, Criminals and outlaws,

Diplomats A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internatio ...

Educators A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

Governors A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political_regions, political region, ranking under the Head of State, head of state and in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of ...

Historians A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...

Journalists A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...

, Judges, law enforcement and firefighters,

Military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

, Physicians, scientists and inventors,

Politicians A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

Sportspeople An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-develo ...

Visual Artists The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts al ...

Antonio Paoli, tenor operístico puertorriqueño nacido en Barrio Cuarto, Ponce, Puerto Rico

Amalia Paoli, soprano puertorriqueña nacida en Ponce, Puerto Rico

Gobernador de Puerto Rico Roberto Sánchez Vilella en el año 1958

Rafael Hernández Colón, Former Governor of Puerto Rico

Actors, actresses, comedians, directors and entertainers

Marisol Calero Marisol Calero (born 13 September 1963) is a Puerto Rican actress and singer. Early years Calero was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 13 September 1963. As a child, Calero participated in school performances at the Academia del Perpetuo Socorro a ...

, actress
Films: Under Suspicion, and ''" El último de los amantes"'' (the Spanish language version of

The Last of the Red Hot Lovers ''Last of the Red Hot Lovers'' is a comedy by Neil Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1969. Production The play opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 28, 1969, and closed on September 4, 1971, after 706 performances and si ...

). *

Míriam Colón Míriam Colón Valle (August 20, 1936 – March 3, 2017) was a Puerto Rican actress. She was the founder and director of New York City's Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. Beginning her career in the early 1950s, she performed on Broadway and on t ...

, actress
Founder of New York City's

Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater is a theater company based at the 47th Street Theater in New York City. It was founded as El Nuevo Círculo Dramatico (The New Drama Circuit) by Míriam Colón and Roberto Rodríguez. It was one of the first Pue ...

* María-Elena Laas, actress
Films:

The Hot Chick ''The Hot Chick'' is a 2002 American comedy film written and directed by Tom Brady, with additional writing by Rob Schneider. Schneider stars as Clive Maxtone, a middle-aged criminal who switches bodies with mean-spirited cheerleader Jessica Spe ...

, and Suffering Man's Charity, among others. *

Walter Mercado Walter Mercado Salinas (9 March 1932 – 2 November 2019), also known by his stage name Shanti Ananda, was a Puerto Rican astrologer, actor, dancer, and writer, best known as a television personality for his shows as an astrologer. His astrol ...

, astrologer, dancer, telenovela actor, writer *

Mario Montez René Rivera, (July 20, 1935 – September 26, 2013), known professionally as Mario Montez, was one of the Warhol superstars, appearing in thirteen of Andy Warhol's underground films from 1964 to 1966. He took his name as a male homage to the act ...

, female impersonator/actor
A

Warhol superstar Warhol superstars were a clique of New York City personalities promoted by the pop artist Andy Warhol during the 1960s and early 1970s. These personalities appeared in Warhol's artworks and accompanied him in his social life, epitomizing his fam ...

. *

Tommy Muñiz Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez (4 February 1922 – 15 January 2009), better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner. He is considered to be one of the pioneerin ...

, television producer comedian and actor
Pioneer in Puerto Rico television. Starred in the movie ''"

Lo que le Pasó a Santiago ''Lo que le pasó a Santiago'' (; "What Happened to Santiago") is a 1989 Puerto Rican film written and directed by Jacobo Morales. The film tells the story of a recently retired widower who meets a mysterious young lady who disrupts his daily rou ...

"'', directed by

Jacobo Morales Jacobo Morales (born 12 November 1934) is a Puerto Rican actor, poet, writer, playwright, filmmaker, and auteur.Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

. *

Lymari Nadal Lymari Nadal Torres (born 11 February 1978) is a Puerto Rican actress, film producer and scriptwriter. She has performed in several films including '' American Gangster'' and '' Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.'' In 2011, she also produced he ...

, actress
Film: American Gangster; TV:

Battlestar Galactica ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series), original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel se ...

Elín Ortíz Elin or Elín is a variation of Ellen and Helene used in Scandinavian and Celtic languages. Prominent people *Elin Andersdotter (d. 1569), Swedish lady-in-waiting and political conspirator * Elin Brandell (1882–1963), Swedish journalist *Elí ...

, actor, producer, comedian and screenwriter.
For many years interpreted "Relíquia", mocking political corruption in Puerto Rico. *

Jeimy Osorio Jeirmarie "Jeimy" Osorio Rivera (born December 22, 1988) is a Puerto Rican actress and singer. Best known for telenovelas: ''Una Maid en Manhattan'', '' Porque el amor manda'', ''Santa Diabla Santa Diabla (literally: ''Holy Devil'', English ...

, actress.
Film:

Una Maid en Manhattan ''Una Maid en Manhattan'' is a Spanish-language American telenovela produced by Telemundo Studios. It is based on the 2002 film ''Maid in Manhattan'', starring Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes. Plot ''Una Maid in Manhattan'' tells the story of ...

, ''" Porque el amor manda"'', ''"

Santa Diabla Santa Diabla (literally: ''Holy Devil'', English title: ''Broken Angel'') is an American telenovela written by José Ignacio Valenzuela, and produced by United States-based television network Telemundo Studios, Miami. The story begins with Gaby ...

"''; TV: Celia. * Gilluis Pérez, actor.
TV: Nicky Jam: El Ganador. *

Luis Raúl Luis Raúl Martínez Rodríguez (March 6, 1962February 2, 2014), better known as Luis Raúl, was a Puerto Rican actor, comedian and television host. He was known for his stand-up comedy and his various characters. He also hosted TeleOnce's (lat ...

, actor, comedian and TV host
Acted in many

telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...

s. Hosted ''"

Anda Pa'l Cara Anda or ANDA may refer to: Places China *Anda, Heilongjiang, a city in Heilongjiang, China *Anda railway station, a railway station in Anda, China Iran *Anda, Iran, a village in Fars Province, Iran Norway *Anda, Norway, an island in Øksnes mun ...

"'' and ''"

Pa' Que Te Lo Goces ''Pa' Que Te Lo Goces'' was a Puerto Rican variety show directed by Tony Mojena. It aired on Telemundo Puerto Rico. It included comedies, charity campaigns, gossip, news, reality shows, contests, and singers, celebrities, and other special guest ...

"'' *

Esther Sandoval Esther Sandoval (28 December 1928 – 6 February 2006) was a Puerto Rican actress and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television. Early years Sandoval was born Esther María González in Ponce where she received her primary and secondary education. ...

, actress.
Starred in ''"Ante La Ley"'', Puerto Rico's first

. *

Marta Romero Marta Romero (17 February 1928 – 31 May 2013) was a Puerto Rican actress and singer, and one of the pioneers in Puerto Rican television. Early life Romero was born on Calle Mora in downtown Ponce, a city in the south coast of Puerto Rico and ...

, actress and singer
One of the pioneers of

s in Puerto Rico * Teófilo Torres, actor and film director
Film: ''" Dios los cría"'', the Spanish language version of ...And God Created Them, among others. *

Carmen Nydia Velázquez Carmen Nydia Velázquez (born 2 October 1947) is a Puerto Rican comedian,comedic Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

duet A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo ...

''"

Susa y Epifanio Susa y Epifanio are a comedic duo of fictional characters from Puerto Rico. They hosted the radio program ''Prende El Fogón'' on WSKN-AM in San Juan, and the weekday television program ''El Fogón TV'' on WORO-DT in Carolina. They also make fr ...

"'' *

Rosita Velázquez Rosa Idalia Velázquez (born July 29, 1950), better known as Rosita Velázquez, is a Puerto Rican comedian, actress and singer. She is best known for her participation in television comedy shows such as "Mi Hippie me Encanta" ("I Love my Hippie"), ...

, actress, comedian and singer, grew up in Ponce. *

Juan Emilio Viguié Juan Emilio Viguié Cajas (July 11, 1891 – September 1966), was a movie and documentary producer. A pioneer in the film industry of Puerto Rico, he was the first People of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican to produce commercially successful films in th ...

, film producer
Pioneer film producer. Made the first commercially successful films in the island, including ''"Romance Tropical"'', the first Puerto Rican film with sound. *

Marco Zunino Marco Aurelio Zunino Costa (born 12 November 1976) is a Peruvian actor, singer, songwriter and dancer. In his country has starred in the musicals '' Jesucristo Superstar'', ''Cabaret'', ''Rent'' and '' Amor sin barreras (West Side Story)''. Zu ...

, actor
Starred in the musicals '' Jesucristo Superstar'', ''

Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or d ...

'', ''

Rent Rent may refer to: Economics *Renting, an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property *Economic rent, any payment in excess of the cost of production *Rent-seeking, attempting to increase one's share of e ...

'' and '' Amor sin barreras (West Side Story)''.

Architects

* Pedro Adolfo de Castro y Besosa, architect
A graduate of an American architecture university, he designed masterpieces such as Castillo Serrallés and Casa de España. *

Juan Bertoli Calderoni Juan Bertoli Calderoni (sometimes spelled ''Juan Bertoly Calderoni'') was a nineteenth-century French architect from Bastia, Corsica, and long-time resident of Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he designed various prominent structures including Tea ...

, architect
Designer of

Teatro La Perla Teatro La Perla is a historic theater in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Inaugurated in 1864, it is the second oldest theater of its kind in Puerto Rico, but "the largest and most historic in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean." The theater was name ...

Maruja Fuentes Maruja Fuentes (March 4, 1978 – June 28, 2010) was a Puerto Rican architect and an industrial and environmental designer. Biography A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Maruja studied environmental design at the University of Puerto Rico, earned an ...

, industrial and environmental designer *

Timoteo Luberza Timoteo Luberza de San Martín (ca. 1820 - ca. 1895) was a nineteenth-century Puerto Rican engineer from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was responsible for the 1875 Ponce water supply system, including the dam in Rio Portugues, and the ''Calle del Agu ...

, architect
Designed

Plaza del Mercado Isabel II Plaza del Mercado de Ponce (English: Ponce Market Plaza) or, formally, Plaza del Mercado Isabel Segunda (often abbreviated as Plaza del Mercado Isabel II), is a historic marketplace building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was inaugurated in 1863 by P ...

Andrés Mignucci Andrés Mignucci Giannoni FAIA (December 17, 1957 – November 21, 2022) was a Puerto Rican architect and urbanist of Corsican ancestry. His work received recognition for its integration of the disciplines of architecture, urban design and lan ...

, urbanist.
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Winner of the

Henry Klumb Heinrich Klumb (1905 in Cologne, Germany – 1984 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) was a German architect who worked in Puerto Rico during the mid 20th Century. Education and early life Klumb was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1905. An honors graduate ...

Award 2012. *

Francisco Porrata-Doría Francisco Luis Porrata-Doría (4 May 1890 - 2 September 1971) was a Puerto Rican architect from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Porrata-Doría was a pioneer in the development of the local modern architecture and one of the architects responsible for what ...

, architect
Designed the

Ponce Cathedral Ponce may refer to: *Ponce (surname) * *Ponce, Puerto Rico, a city in Puerto Rico ** Ponce High School ** Ponce massacre, 1937 * USS ''Ponce'', several ships of the US Navy *Manuel Ponce, a Mexican composer active in the 20th century * British sla ...

, Banco de Ponce building, and Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño building. *

Blas Silva Blas C. Silva Boucher (2 February 1869 - 27 January 1949) was a twentieth-century Puerto Rican engineer from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is credited with the creation of the Ponce Creole architectural style, even though he was trained as an enginee ...

, architect
Creator of the

Ponce Creole Ponce Creole is an architectural style created in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the late 19th and early 20th century. This style of Puerto Rican buildings is found predominantly in residential homes in Ponce that developed between 1895 and 1920. Ponc ...

architectural style. Designed the

Casa de la Masacre The ''Museo de la Masacre de Ponce'' (the Ponce Massacre Museum) is a human rights museum and historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It depicts the history and events surrounding the Ponce massacre, which occurred in broad daylight on Palm Su ...

Font-Ubides House Casa Font-Ubides (English: Font-Ubides House), also known as the Residencia Monsanto (English: Monsanto Residence) is a historic building located on the north side of Castillo Street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. The bu ...

, and the Subira House, among others. *

Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti was a Puerto Rican architect from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was an expositor of the Neoclassicism and Art Nouveau architectural styles, doing most of his work in his hometown of Ponce. Today, Alfredo Wiechers' city reside ...

, architect
Designed many buildings now in the

NRHP The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

including

Casa Wiechers-Villaronga Casa Wiechers-Villaronga is a Classical Revival style mansion in Ponce, Puerto Rico designed and built in the early twentieth century. The house was acquired and restored by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and now operates as the Museo de ...

, today the

Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña The Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña (Museum of Ponce Architecture) is an architecture museum housed at the Casa Wiechers-Villaronga, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is preserves the history of the architectural styles of Ponce and Puerto Rico. The ...

Authors, playwrights and poets

* César Andreu Iglesias, labor organizer, journalist, novelist, and short-story writer.
Co-founder of

Claridad ''Claridad'' ("Clarity") is a Spanish-language weekly newspaper based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was founded in June 1959. The paper served as the official publication of the Puerto Rican independence movement and later the Puerto Rican Socia ...

. President of the

Puerto Rican Communist Party The Puerto Rican Communist Party (in Spanish: ''Partido Comunista Puertorriqueño,'' PCP) was a communist party in Puerto Rico founded on 23 September 1934 following the sugar strikes on the island that same year. Relevant members include Genera ...

, and recipient of the 1960 Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Puerto Rican Institute of Literature. *

Rosario Ferré Rosario Ferré Ramírez de Arellano (September 28, 1938 – February 18, 2016) was a Puerto Rican writer, poet, and essayist.

, fiction writer, poet, essayist and biographer
Award: Liberatur Prix Award,

Frankfurt Book Fair The Frankfurt Book Fair (German: Frankfurter Buchmesse, FBM) is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. It is considered to be the most important book fair in the world for internationa ...

. * Félix Franco-Oppenheimer, poet and writer
His works include "Contornos", "Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico", and "Antología poética". *

Pedro J. Labarthe Pedro Juan Labarthe López de Victoria (21 June 1905 – March 1966) was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, essayist, and novelist. Birth place, training and life Pedro Juan Labarthe López de Victoria was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1905. ...

, poet, journalist, essayist, and novelist.
Documented the experience of Puerto Rican migration to New York. Major writings: The Son of Two Nations: The Private Life of a Columbia Student, among others. *

Emilio J. Pasarell Emilio J. Pasarell (1891–1974) was a Puerto Rican short story writer, novelist, essayist and historian. Origin Pasarell was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1891, the son of Manuel Pasarell-Mila de la Rosa (also known as Manuel Pasarell y Mila ...

, short-story writer, novelist, and essayist. He was also an accomplished historian.
Best known for his ''"Origenes y desarrollo de la aficcion teatral en Puerto Rico"'' (Origins and development of theater in Puerto Rico). *

Pedro Pietri Pedro Pietri (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2004) was a Nuyorican poet and playwright and one of the co-founders of the Nuyorican Movement. He was considered by some as the poet laureate of the Nuyorican Movement. Early years Pietri was born in ...

, poet, playwright
Co-founder of the

Nuyorican Poets Café The Nuyorican (Puerto Rican New Yorkers) Poets Cafe is a nonprofit organization in Alphabet City, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It is a bastion of the Nuyorican art movement in New York City, and has become a forum for poetry, music, hip ...

. * Ed Vega, novelist and short-story writer.
Major awards:

PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award The PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award is for U.S. multicultural writers, to "promote works of excellence by writers of all cultural and racial backgrounds and to educate both the public and the media as to the nature of multicultural work. ...

(2004) and

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

Book of the Year Award (2004). * Iris Zavala, author, scholar, and poet.
Major Awards:

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

ICP ICP may refer to: Business * ICP srl, Italian manufacturer of automotive equipment and kit aircraft *Ideal customer profile: see Qualified prospect * International Comfort Products Corporation, US air conditioning and heating company * Indonesi ...

;

Gold Medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have bee ...

, AP; and Pen Club Award.

Beauty queens and fashion models

Denise Quiñones Denise Marie Quiñones August (born 9 September 1980) is a Puerto Rican actress, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2001. Prior to winning the Miss Universe pageant, she represented her hometown of Lares in the Miss Puerto Ric ...

, beauty queen
Miss Puerto Rico 2001,

Miss Universe 2001 Miss Universe 2001, the 50th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant, was held on May 11, 2001, at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico was crowned by Lara Dutta of India as her successor at ...

Maripily Rivera María del Pilar "Maripily" Rivera Borrero (born 15 June 1977) is a Puerto Rican actress, model,

, model
Model, TV host and actress

Business people and industrialists

* Juan Bigas Moulins, businessman

Ponce Servicios Ponce Servicos, formerly Plaza del Mercado Juan Bigas, is a brutalist municipal building located Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is the largest building in the municipality in terms of footprint area and the only one that occupies an entire city block. T ...

was named after him. *

Salvador de Vives Salvador de Vives Rodó (1784 – 24 November 1845), also known as Salvador Vives, was a Puerto Rican hacendado and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1 January 1840 to 5 January 1842 and then again from 1 January 1844 to 24 November 1845. Hi ...

, Mayor of Ponce and founder of

Hacienda Buena Vista Hacienda Buena Vista, also known as Hacienda Vives (or Buena Vista Plantation in English language, English), was a coffee plantation located in Barrio Magueyes, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The original plantation dates from the 19th century. The planta ...

Under his mayoral administration, the

Ponce City Hall The Ponce City Hall ( es, Casa Alcaldía de Ponce) is a historic city hall in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is located it the center of the city, on Calle Degetau, across from Plaza Degetau in the Ponce Historic Zone. The building serves as the seat ...

was built. * Ramiro L. Colón
First administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico,

Café Rico Café Rico is a Puerto Rican corporation that manufactures coffee branded by the same name. The company's headquarters are located at Avenida Las Americas/ Route 163 and Calle Comercio/ Route 133 in Barrio San Antón in the city of Ponce, Puer ...

. *

Antonio Luis Ferré Antonio Luis Ferré (born February 6, 1934) is the Chairman of the Board of the Ferré-Rangel business emporium which owns Puerto Rico's largest newspaper, ''El Nuevo Día'', as well as ''Primera Hora'' newspaper. Ferré is the son of former Go ...

, businessman and industrialist
Owner of Ferré-Rangel media emporium. * Luberza Oppenheimer, Isabel

Madam Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for Woman, women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French ...

of a notorious

brothel A brothel, bordello, ranch, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in sexual activity with prostitutes. However, for legal or cultural reasons, establishments often describe themselves as massage parlors, bars, strip clubs, body rub par ...

. *

Francisco Parra Duperón Francisco Parra Duperón (1827–1899) born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, was a lawyer and banker. He became a lawyer at a young age and moved from Mayagüez to Ponce, Puerto Rico where he established his law practice. He was also one of the foun ...

, lawyer
Founder of Puerto Rico's oldest law firm in continuous operation, Parra, del Valle & Limeres. * José Miguel Rovira, industrialist
Founder of

Rovira Biscuits Corporation Rovira Biscuits Corporation is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican corporation that manufactures Cracker (food), crackers branded by the same name. The company is well known for its production of ''"export sodas"'' crackers. The company's headq ...

. * Ermelindo Salazar, businessman
Founded the Ponce Chamber of Commerce. Was also president of

Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (Ponce Credit and Savings Bank) was the first bank in Ponce, Puerto Rico,Félix Saurí Vivas Félix Saurí Vivas (December 1850 – 25 December 1915), also known as Félix Saurí y Vivas, was a Spanish-Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican businessman and interim Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Ponce, from 13 May 1895 to 11 July 1895.Soco ...

, businessman and

hacienda An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...

holder
Built the third-oldest residence still standing in Ponce and which became Liceo Ponceño, Puerto Rico's first girls-only school, and later the

Ponce Ramada Hotel The Ponce Plaza Hotel & Casino, formerly Ponce Ramada Hotel and Ponce Plaza Ramada Hotel, is a five-story hotel in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The hotel opened in the summer of 2009 and is known for the historic value of its structure: its main entrance ...

. *

Juan Serrallés ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronounced differently) in the Isle of Man. In Spanish, t ...

, businessman and hacienda holder
Founder of

Destilería Serrallés Destilería Serrallés is a rum producer located in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and best known for its Don Q rum brand. The company is Puerto Rico's oldest family-owned company and has revenues of over 100 million dollars. In 2011, it was responsible f ...

and "

Don Q Don Q is a Puerto Rican rum, distilled, manufactured, bottled, and distributed by Destilería Serrallés from its corporate facility in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Don Q, "Puerto Rico's best-known rum", is the top-selling rum in Puerto Rico, where ov ...

". * Salvador Vassallo, industrialist
Founder of

Industrias Vassallo Industrias Vassallo, Inc. is a "worldwide leader" in the manufacture and distribution of PVC injection moulded and extruded goods, and manufacturer and distributor of PVC pipes and accessories, related plastics products, and resin furniture. Th ...

and subsidiaries. * Luis Fortuño Janeiro, journalist and member of the

Puerto Rico Senate The Senate of Puerto Rico ( es, Senado de Puerto Rico) is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate, together with the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, control t ...

Founder of Ïmprenta Fortuño.

Civic leaders

Olimpio Otero Vergés Olimpio Otero Vergés (1845 – 7 September 1911) was a merchant,''El Componte.'' Museo del Autonomismo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Autonomism Museum), Panteón Nacional Roman Baldorioty de Castro, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Accessed 10 November 2010 ...

, civic leader, merchant, attorney
Instrumental in the creation of the

Parque de la Abolición Parque de la Abolición (English: Abolition Park) is a city park in Barrio Cuarto, Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was the first park in the Caribbean to commemorate the abolition of slavery. It was built in 1874 and renovated in 1956. Background Sla ...

, the building of road

PR-123 Puerto Rico Highway 123 (PR-123) is a secondary highway that connects the city Arecibo to the city of Ponce. It runs through the towns of Utuado and Adjuntas, before reaching Ponce. A parallel road is being built, PR-10, that is expected to tak ...

PR-10 Puerto Rico Highway 10 (PR-10) is a major highway in Puerto Rico. The primary state road connects the city of Ponce in the south coast to Arecibo in the north; it is also the shortest route between the two cities. Construction on the modern PR- ...

, and the launching of 1883 Ponce Fair * Valentín Tricoche, philanthropist and civic leader
Donated the money for the construction of

Acueducto de Ponce The Acueducto de Ponce (Ponce Aqueduct), formally Acueducto Alfonso XII, is the name of a historic 2.5-mileClarksburg Telegram. Clarksburg, West Virginia. Vol XXXVII. Number 38. 29 July 1898. Page 1. gravity-based water supply system in the city ...

and what would become

Hospital Tricoche Albergue Caritativo Tricoche or Hospital Tricoche (English: ''Tricoche Charitable Shelter'' or ''Tricoche Hospital'') is a historic building located on Calle Tricoche street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. It was design ...

. *

Rafael Rivera Esbrí Rafael Rivera Esbrí (2 July 1870 – 9 November 1965) was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1915 to 1917. Early years Rivera Esbri was the son of Ramón Rivera Alvarado and Julia Esbri. He married Faneta Bengoa y Larrauri and had a daughte ...

, civic leader and mayor
A hero of 1898 "El Polvorín" fire.

Civil servants and public servants

Enrique Campos del Toro Enrique Campos del Toro (15 June 1898 – 28 February 1980) was a Puerto Rican law professor, banker, and attorney general of Puerto Rico. Early years Campos del Toro was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 15 June 1898. He received his law degree ...

, businessman, banker, law professor and civil servant
Served in several Commonwealth governmental positions, some of which were appointed by the president of the United States. * Carlos A. Chardón López, educator and civil servant
Chardón served twice as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Education *

Carlos Fernando Chardón Major General Carlos Fernando Chardón also referred to as "Fernando Chardón"Various notable members of his family were named "Carlos Chardón". He preferred to be referred to as "Fernando Chardón" to avoid confusion with the others. (Septemb ...

, Secretary of State and Adjuntant General of Puerto Rico. * Antonio S. Luchetti, engineer and public servant
Headed the launching of island-wide public electric service in Puerto Rico. * Mariano Villaronga-Toro, educator and public servant
The first Commissioner of Public Instruction after the creation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Displaced English as the language of instruction and replaced it with Spanish.

Civil rights and/or political activists

Carlos Alberto Torres Carlos Alberto "Capita" Torres (17 July 1944 – 25 October 2016), also known as "O Capitão do Tri", was a Brazilian football player and manager who played as an attacking right-sided full-back or wing-back. A technically gifted defender w ...

, political activist
Nationalist and political prisoner.

Clergy

José Luis de Jesús José Luis de Jesús Miranda (April 22, 1946 – November 17, 2013) was the leader of the Creciendo en Gracia cult, based in Miami, Florida. He claimed to be both the returned phase of Jesus Christ and the Antichrist; he was known for making st ...

, Creator of the "Creciendo en Gracia" sect
Self-proclaimed "Jesus Christ Man". Can be heard in 287 radio stations; founded a 24-hr TV network; has some 2 million followers in 35 countries. *

Isolina Ferré ''Sor'' Isolina Ferré Aguayo (5 September 1914 – 3 August 2000) was a Puerto Rican Roman Catholic religious sister. Known as the "Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico", she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her humanitaria ...

, Catholic nun
Recipient of the

Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merito ...

. *

Félix Lázaro Martínez Félix Lázaro Martínez, Sch.P., (born 2 March 1936) is a Spanish-born prelate who served as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce. Lázaro was ordained to serve as the Coadjutor Bishop of Ponce on 25 April 2002, and was elevate ...

, bishop of Ponce
Educator at the

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico) is a private Roman Catholic university with its main campus in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Docto ...

* Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver, bishop of Ponce
Longest-serving bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with 36 years of service.

Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and opera

Composers

* Julio C. Arteaga, composer of danzas, musician and teacher. *

Héctor Campos Parsi Héctor Campos Parsi (October 1, 1922 – January 30, 1998) was a Puerto Rican composer. He studied at the New England Conservatory with Francis Judd Cooke, he also studied with Paul Hindemith. In Tanglewood he studied with Olivier Messiaen ...

, composer and writer
Wrote many compositions, including the incidental music for both

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, and

Dracula ''Dracula'' is a novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897. As an epistolary novel, the narrative is related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist, but opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taking ...

Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author who is celebrated for his 1897 Gothic horror novel '' Dracula''. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and busine ...

. *

Arístides Chavier Arévalo Arístides Chavier Arévalo (3 September 1867 –1942) was a Puerto Rican pianist, modernism composer, musicologist and music author from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early years and schooling Chavier Arévalo was born in Ponce on 3 September 1867. In ...

, pianist and composer.
Chavier trained

Luis A. Ferré Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo (February 17, 1904 October 20, 2003) was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the governor of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973. He was the founder of the ...

as a concert-level pianist. *

Juan Morel Campos Juan Morel Campos (16 May 1857 – 12 May 1896), sometimes erroneously spelled ''Juan Morell Campos'', was a Puerto Rican composer, considered by many to be responsible for taking the genre of danza to its highest level. He composed over ...

, composer of

danzas DHL Global Forwarding, formerly known as DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, is a division of Deutsche Post DHL providing air and ocean freight forwarding services. It also plans and undertakes major logistics projects under the brand name DHL Industrial Pro ...

.
Founder of the Ponce Municipal Band. Wrote over 550 compositions before he died on stage at age 39. * Juan Ríos Ovalle, composer of danzas, prolific musician and orchestra director. * Manuel G. Tavárez, composer
Known as "The father of the Puerto Rican danza"

Musicians

Carlos Alomar Carlos Alomar (born 7 May 1951) is a Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rican guitarist. He is best known for his work with David Bowie from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, having played on more Bowie albums than any musician other than pianist Mike Garso ...

, guitarist, composer and arranger.
Best known for his work with

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician. *

Julio Alvarado Tricoche Julio Alvarado Tricoche (1886–1970) was a Puerto Rican flutist, composer, and director of the Banda Municipal de Ponce for seventeen years. Early years Julio Alvarado Tricoche was born on 18 February 1886 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.Rubén Colón Tarrats Rubén Colón Tarrats (b. 1940) is a Puerto Rican composer, clarinet player and band director from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He also conducted the Banda Municipal de Ponce for ten years. He received his music training at Escuela Libre de Música de ...

, musician, composer, band director. * Domingo Cruz "Cocolía", musician and orchestra director.

Director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''Di ...

of the ultracentenarian Ponce Municipal Band. *

Papo Lucca Enrique Arsenio Lucca Quiñones (born April 10, 1946) better known as Papo Lucca, is a Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist best known for his pianist skills. His main musical genres are Salsa and Latin Jazz. He ranks with the late Charlie Palm ...

, multi-instrumentalist musician.
Co-founder of

La Sonora Ponceña La Sonora Ponceña is a Puerto Rican salsa band, founded in 1954 by Enrique "Quique" Lucca Caraballo. Today Quique's son, Papo Lucca, directs the band. The band has stayed active for a remarkable amount of time, recording dozens of albums, inclu ...

, a

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: A ...

band. He also played the piano with The

Fania All-Stars The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time. History Beginnings In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, ...

. *

Elías López Sobá Elías López Sobá (born in 1927) is a Puerto Rican classical music pianist and educator. Together with musical director Justino Diaz, Elias López Sobá has been co-directing the annual Casals Festival since 2010. Some sources considered him ...

, classical music pianist and educator.
Co-director of the annual

Casals Festival The Casals Festival is a classical music event celebrated every year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in honor of classical musician Pablo Casals. Background The festival was founded in 1956 by Pablo Casals. It was promoted by Teodoro Moscoso and David ...

since 2010. *

Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso (1933–2003) was a Puerto Rican bombard player and director of the Banda Municipal de Ponce for twenty-three years. Early years Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso was born on 14 November 1933 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Tr ...

, musician and band director. *

Librado Net Librado Net Pérez (1895-1964) was a Puerto Rican musician, educator and painter from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was the first director of the Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, considered the best of Puerto Rico's free Music Schools at the time. ...

, musician, educator and painter.
First director of the Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce and mastermind behind the creation of Puerto Rico's Free Music School system. * Elisa Tavárez, pianist

Contemporary singers

PJ Sin Suela Pedro Juan Vázquez Bragan (born August 5, 1989), known professionally as PJ Sin Suela, is a Puerto Rican rapper and doctor. Born in The Bronx, New York City and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he graduated from medical school in 2015 before pursu ...

, rapper, composer, and doctor.
Pedro-Juan Vázquez Bragan better known as PJ Sin Suela has been known for his music career and his compromise with social matters in Puerto Rico. * Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos, singer, composer, and guitarist.
With

Johnny Albino Johnny Albino (December 9, 1919 – May 7, 2011) was a Puerto Rican bolero singer, born in Yauco, Puerto Rico but lived most of his life in Guayama, Puerto Rico. Biography Johnny Albino played and sang through his youth years. It was not un ...

and Félix ("Ola") Martínez, made up Trío San Juan during the years 1949–1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero "Siete notas de amor". *

Cheo Feliciano Cheo Feliciano (3 July 1935 – 17 April 2014) was a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican Singing, singer and composer of Salsa music, salsa and bolero music. Feliciano was the owner of a recording company called "Coche Records". He was the first t ...

singer.
Lead singer for the " Joe Cuba Sextet" and later with the

. *

Ruth Fernández Ruth Fernández (23 May 1919 – 9 January 2012) was a Puerto Rican contralto and a member of the Puerto Rican Senate. According to the "Comisiones Nacionales para la Celebración del Quinto Centenario" ''(National Commission for the Celebrati ...

Contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

Bolero Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

singer and singer of up tempo songs.
Won numerous awards internationally during her lifetime. Was also elected to the

. *

Héctor Lavoe Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (30 September 1946 – 29 June 1993), better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe is considered to be possibly the best and most important singer and interpreter in the history of salsa ...

, Salsa and Bolero singer.
Credited with starting the salsa movement in the early 1970s in collaboration with The

. *"

Lunna Lunna (born June 30, 1960; born María Socorro García de la NocedaGarcia de la Noceda is her paternal surname) is a Puerto Rican singer of popular music and jazz who was the director of the television show ''Objetivo Fama'', the Latin version ...

", Pop and Jazz singer.
Director of the TV show "

Objetivo Fama ''Objetivo Fama'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''OF'', Spanish for ''Target: Fame'') is a Puerto Rican singing talent contest that aired for over six years on WLII, the Univision outlet in Puerto Rico; and on Telefutura in the mainland United State ...

". *

Ednita Nazario Edna María Nazario Figueroa (born April 11, 1955) is a Puerto Rican musician, singer, and composer who has achieved stardom both at home and abroad. She has been in the music business from a young age and has released twenty-three (23) studio ...

, Pop and rock singer.
Has recorded over 50 albums, DVDs, and compilations. *

Ismael Quintana Ismael Quintana (June 3, 1937 – April 16, 2016) was a Puerto Rican singer and composer of salsa music. Early years Quintana was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to The Bronx sector of New York when he was only two weeks old; there ...

, Salsa singer and composer.
Recipient of the 1966 "Most Popular Latin Singer of the Year" award at the

Palladium Ballroom The Palladium Ballroom was a New York City night club. The US mambo craze that started in 1948 began at the Palladium Ballroom. On March 15, 1946, it opened at the northeast corner of Broadway and 53rd Street.''New York Post'', March 14, 1946; p ...

. Also sang with The

. *Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Salsa singer. Sang with The

and also had a solo career. *Draco Rosa, Menudo (band), Menudo musician and singer.
Multiple-time Grammy Award, Grammy and Latin Grammy Award, Latin Grammy winning musician, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet and entrepreneur. *Carmín Vega, singer and comedian.
Known as "The woman with a thousand voices and a thousand faces". *Juan Vélez, singer, musician and songwriter.
Winner of the Objetivo Fama (Fourth Season), fourth season of Objetivo Fama.

Opera

*Lizzie Graham, Soprano singer
Trained 19th century international soprano singer Amalia Paoli. *Amalia Paoli, soprano opera singer. *Antonio Paoli, tenor opera singer
First person in world history to record an entire opera *Melliangee Pérez, soprano opera singer
Recipient of UNESCO's Soprano of the Year award. * Graciela Rivera, soprano opera singer
First Puerto Rican to sing a lead role at the Metropolitan Opera.

Theatrical arts

*Luis Torres Nadal, playwright, poet, educator, actor, choreographer, and theatrical director.

Criminals and outlaws

*Antonio Correa Cotto
Notorious 1930s outlaw.

Diplomats

*Teodoro Moscoso, diplomat and civil servant
Former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela and head of Alliance for Progress

Educators

*Alfredo M. Aguayo, educator and writer
Established the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana *Carlos Albizu Miranda, psychologist and educator
Founder of Albizu University. *María Teresa Babín Cortés, educator, literary critic, and essayist
Author of ''"Panorama de la Cultura Puertorriqueña"'', among others. *Hemeterio Colón Warens, educator, land surveyor, and mayor of Cayey
Founded Colegio Central Ponceño in 1883. *Jaime L. Drew, educator, civil servant, writer and engineer
Author of ''"Libro de Poemas en Ingles y Espanol"'', among others. *Antonio García Padilla, scholar, and civil servant
President of the University of Puerto Rico. *Manuel González Pató, educator, writer, and sportsman.
Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, Puerto Rico National Olympic team coach *Domingo Marrero Navarro, educator and writer
Author of award-winning ''"El Centauro: Persona y Pensamiento de Ortega y Gasset"'' (Institute of Puerto Rican Culture) *Lolita Tizol, educator
Taught music for a meager $50 per month to an entire generation of Puerto Rican children.

Governors

Also an industrialist and philanthropist. Founder of the Museo de Arte de Ponce and Ponce Cement, Inc. *Rafael Hernández Colón
Two-time governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, at 35, Puerto Rico's youngest governor ever. *Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

First Ladies of Puerto Rico

*Conchita Dapena
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1965–1966). *

Rosario Ferré Rosario Ferré Ramírez de Arellano (September 28, 1938 – February 18, 2016) was a Puerto Rican writer, poet, and essayist.

First Lady of Puerto Rico (1970–1972). *Lila Mayoral Wirshing
Youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico (1973–1977, 1985–1992). *Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1969–1970).

Historians

*Silvia Álvarez Curbelo, architectural and cultural historian
Founding member of the Puerto Rican Association of Historians, and director of the Center for Communications Research at the University of Puerto Rico. * Francisco Lluch Mora, historian
Wrote ''"Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, Demográfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX)"''. *Ramón Marín, historian
Wrote the classical work: ''"Las fiestas populares de Ponce."'' *Antonio Mirabal, political historian and poet
Author of ''"De Rosas a Trujillo: estudio histórico comparativo de las tiranías en América."'' Long-time chief archivist at Archivo Historico de Ponce *Eduardo Neumann Gandía, historian
Author of ''"Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce."'' *Andrés Ramos Mattei, sugar industry historian
Said to be "the undisputed authority" on the subject of Puerto Rico's sugar industry. *Gladys Esther Tormes González, historian
Head archivist and longest-serving archivist at the ''"Archivo Historico de Ponce"''.

Journalists

*Carmen Dominicci, news anchor. *Juan Gonzalez (journalist), Juan González, journalist
Columnist for New York's Daily News (New York), Daily News, and co-host the radio and television program Democracy Now!. *Washington Lloréns, journalist, writer, linguistics, linguist, and scholar. *Jorge L. Ramos, news anchor
Emmy Award-winning New York City television news anchor. *Ramón Enrique Torres, news anchor.

Judges, law enforcement and firefighters

*Jeannette Ramos, Judge, Puerto Rico Court of Appeals
Judiciary of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico district judge and a First Lady of Puerto Rico (1967–1969). *Pedro Toledo, Puerto Rico Police Commissioner
Main negotiation, negotiator during the 1987 Atlanta Prison Riots. *Raúl Gándara-Cartagena, Fire Commissioner
The first and longest-serving Fire Commissioner in Puerto Rico.

Military

*Agüeybaná (The Great Sun), Agüeybaná (Great Sun), Supreme Taíno chief
Supreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de León to the island. *Agüeybaná II, Supreme cacique of the entire island of "Puerto Rico, Borikén"
Led the Taínos in the fight against Juan Ponce de León and the Spanish conquistadores in the Taíno rebellion of 1511. *Ramón Colón-López, chief master sergeant, U.S. Air Force
First and only Latino among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. *Antonio J. Ramos, brigadier general, U.S. Air Force
First Latino to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command. * José Antonio Muñiz lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force
Co-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. * Horacio Rivero, admiral, U.S. Navy
First Puerto Rican and second Hispanic to become admiral (four-star) in the U.S. Navy. Commander of the American fleet that effected the blockade of the Soviet ships during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. * Eurípides Rubio, captain, U.S. Army
posthumous recognition, Posthumously awarded the

for his actions at Tay Ninh Province in the South Vietnam, Republic of Vietnam on 8 November 1966. *Raúl G. Villaronga
First Puerto Rican to be elected mayor in the state of Texas. (Mayor of Killeen, Texas). *Luis R. Visot, major general, U. S. Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army Reserve.

Physicians, scientists and inventors

*Carlos E. Chardón Palacios, mycologist
Father of Puerto Rican mycology and first Puerto Rican appointed as Chancellor of University of Puerto Rico. *Martín Corchado, physician and medical researcher
Was also president of the Autonomist Party (Puerto Rico), Autonomist Party of Puerto Rico. *Manuel de la Pila Iglesias, physician and medical pioneer
Introduced the first EKG and X-ray machines to Puerto Rico. Considered to be "one of the giants of Puerto Rican medicine". *José N. Gándara, medical director at

Lead physician helping victims of the Ponce massacre, and expert witness, witness at the trials of the accused Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Nacionalistas. Was Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico. Co-founder of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico. *Joxel García, United States Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Secretary for Health,
First Puerto Rican to be appointed United States Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. *Julio J. Henna, physician and political activist
Co-founder of New York City's French Hospital (Manhattan), French Hospital. *Gerónimo Lluberas, physician, writer, educator, medical missionary
One of the first physicians in the United States and Puerto Rico to use the Prosorba column to treat rheumatoid arthritis. *Rafael López Nussa, physician and public servant
Pioneered heart surgeries in Puerto Rico. *Rafael Pujals, physician, civic leader and political activist
First physician with a medical degree in the city and medical director at both Hospital de Damas and

Politicians

*Pedro Albizu Campos
President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. *Román Baldorioty de Castro
Considered "The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy". *Pedro Colón
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. *Federico Degetau
The first Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner to the United States. *Manuel V. Domenech
Mayor of Ponce. Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Also an engineer and civil servant. *Maurice Ferre
Former Mayor of Miami, Florida. *Marially González Huertas
Vice-president of the Senate of Puerto Rico. *María de Pérez Almiroty
First woman elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico *Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Former Speaker of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives. *Luis Ernesto Ramos Yordán
President of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives *Peter Rivera
Member of the New York State Assembly. *Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez
Speaker of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Also basketball player in Baloncesto Superior Nacional, BSN. *Rafael Cordero Santiago, long-serving mayor of Ponce; elected in 1989, and re-elected to three additional 4-year terms. Died in office.

Sportspeople

Baseball players and coaches

*Roberto Alomar
Former baseball player, MLB All-Star, third Puerto Rican inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame (2011). *Pedro Miguel Caratini
Baseball player. *Orlando Cepeda
Baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. *Francisco "Pancho" Coímbre
Negro league baseball All-Star player. *Carlos Correa
Minnesota Twins player. *Luis DeLeón
Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. *Coco Laboy
MLB player with San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos and the St. Louis Cardinals. *Ricky Ledée
Nine-year veteran in MLB playing as an outfielder. *Javy López
Former catcher in Major League Baseball with the Atlanta Braves, the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. *Felix Maldonado
MLB baseball manager. *Pepe Mangual
MLB player with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. *Paquito Montaner
First Puerto Rican baseball player to throw a "no-hitter" in Puerto Rican baseball. *Millito Navarro
First Puerto Rican to play in Negro league baseball, Negro leagues and the American Negro League's last surviving member. *Luis Quiñones (baseball), Luis Quiñones
Former Major League Baseball player for the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins. *Edwin Rodríguez (baseball), Edwin Rodriguez
Former Florida Marlins team manager. *Benito Santiago
Former 20-season catcher in Major League Baseball. *Félix Torres (baseball), Félix Torres
MLB player with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Redlegs and Philadelphia Phillies. *Javier Vázquez (baseball), Javier Vázquez
Former MLB pitcher. *Otto Vélez
MLB player with New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians. *Enrique A. Vicéns, Enrique "Coco" Vicéns
Basketball player with Leones de Ponce (basketball), Leones de Ponce. Also a politician.

Basketball players

*Juan "Pachín" Vicéns
Basketball player. Led the Ponce Lions (basketball), Lenoes de Ponce team to six championships. *César Bocachica
Olympic basketball player. *Manolo Cintrón
Former Puerto Rico Basketball league player. Also managed Puerto Rico National team to medals at multiple international games. *Bobby Joe Hatton
Puerto Rico basketball league and Puerto Rico Olympic basketball team player. *Miguel "Ali" Berdiel
Puerto Rico professional basketball league player and National Olympic team medalist.

Boxers

*José Torres, José "Chegüi" Torres
World Boxing Association, WBA light heavyweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. *Carlos Ortiz (boxer), Carlos Ortíz
Three-time world boxing champion. *Alex Sánchez (boxer), Alex Sánchez
Light flyweight boxer and WBO's world Strawweight championship. *Mario Santiago
2018 World Boxing Council Caribbean Featherweight champion in 2018. *Juan Carazo
Two time world championship challenger, born in Ponce.

Other sportspeople

*Ricardo Busquets, Olympic swimmer. *Javier Culson, track and field athlete
Olympic medalist specializing in the 400-metre hurdles. *Germán Figueroa, professional wrestler. *Juan "Papo" Franceschi, track and field athlete
Gold medalist at Central American and Caribbean Games *Edgardo Guilbe, track and field athlete
Olympic sprinter. *Julio Enrique Monagas, sportsman, public servant and civic leader.
Considered "The father of Olympic sports in Puerto Rico." *Francisco Rosa Rivera, professional bodybuilder. *Félix Serrallés, professional racing driver. *Debora Seilhamer, Olympic volleyball player. *Jesse Vassallo, swimmer
Former president (2004-2008), Puerto Rico Swimming Federation and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. *Ivelisse Vélez, professional wrestler
Lucha Underground.

Visual artists

*Olga Albizu, Albizu, Olga, abstract expressionist painter.
Her works include album covers for Stan Getz *Elizam Escobar, Escobar, Elizam, painter and political activist.
Dean of the Painting Department at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. *Epifanio “Fano” Irizarry, Irizarry, Epifanio, painter and educator.
His works include "Flamboyan" (1972). *María Luisa Penne, Penne, María Luisa, painter, educator, and graphic artist. *Miguel Pou, Pou, Miguel, painter.
Patrons include Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art and Puerto Rico Museum of Art. *Rafael Rios Rey, Rios Rey, Rafael, muralist.
Patrons include Ponce YMCA Building, Ponce YMCA Organization,

Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (Ponce Credit and Savings Bank) was the first bank in Ponce, Puerto Rico,