Samuel Lewis Galindo (June 4, 1927 – May 26, 2024) was a Panamanian businessman, politician and author of essays and articles about the political, economic and social development of Panama. His published books include ''900 Days: Collapse of a Dictatorship'' and ''The Strings of the Puppets: Internal Workings of a Political Campaign''. In 1994, he was

presidential candidate A candidate, or nominee, is a prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. For example, one can be a candidate for membership in a group or election to an office, in which case a ...

of the

Republic of Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

for the Solidaridad Party, of which he was a founding member.

Biography

Lewis Galindo was the son of Samuel Lewis Arango (1901–1972) and Raquel Galindo de Lewis. He attended primary and secondary school at Colegio La Salle in Panama City, and briefly studied at Soule College in the United States. Lewis Galindo participated in several business associations, such as the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), and the Union of Industrialists of Panama. He also participated in several national councils and commissions, including the National Economic Council and the National Investment Council. Lewis Galindo received various awards including the

Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa The Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa is an order of Panama, instituted on 1 July 1941 (''Ley No. 94 de 1 de julio de 1941''). It is awarded for distinguished diplomatic services and contributions to international relations between Panama and othe ...

, Ecuador Order of Merit, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama - Presidential Distinction. He was named Executive of the Year by the Panamanian Association of Business Executives in 2006. Lewis Galindo was married to Itza Morgan Lewis, with whom he had 7 children: Samuel (who died at an early age), Enrique, Mario, Adriana, Roberto, Ricardo and Itza Maria. On August 23, 2017, the Latin University of Panama conferred the title of Doctor Honoris Causa. Lewis Galindo died on May 26, 2024, at the age of 96, nine days before his 97th birthday.

Career

Lewis Galindo began his journalistic career in the newspaper El Pais, occupying the position of Chief Editor, Deputy Director and columnist. His public and diplomatic life began in 1955, as Special Ambassador for the meeting of Presidents of the American Republics. During 1956 he served as Council member for Capital District, where he also was elected several times President of that body. In 1957, he represented Panama as Alternate Ambassador to the United Nation's General Assembly in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. In 1977 he was a member of the National Economic Council, while between 1984 and 1985 was President of the National Investment Council. In 1996 he participated as a member of the Foreign Affairs National Council of the Republic of Panama. At the corporate level, he served in the 60s as general manager and director of Industrias Panameñas, S.A. (IPSA). Lewis Galindo participated on the boards of Industrias de Carton Corrugado in Panama,

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

and

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

. During this period, he was also member of the board of Ceverceria Nacional. He was appointed General Manager of the Cerveceria Nacional from 1970 to 1991. Between 1991 and 2001, he served as Vice President of the Board of the company. During his career as General Manager, he was actively involved in the brewing industry of the region; as President of the Central American Association of Brewers between 1980 and 1985. In 1984, he founded the Banco del Istmo and served as Chairman of the Board until 2006. This bank, which later became Banistmo, developed into the largest Panamanian bank in

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

. He was also involved in civic and philanthropic activities as president and founder of the Panama's Heart Foundation; as well as member of the board of trustees of the Patronato Panama Viejo, which was formed to rescue the first city of Panama, established by the Spaniards in the Pacific Coast of the Continent in 1519.Los Lewis recogen la historia
, La Prensa. In addition, he was a member of Fundacion Universidad de Panama, and served as its President in the period 2006–2007. His published books including ''900 Días: Colapso de una Dictadura'', ''Los Hilos de las Marionetas'', ''Pensamientos, ecritos y ensayos'', ''El Banco del Istmo: Relato de un extraordinario éxito'' and ''Episodios de mi vida''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Galindo, Samuel Lewis 1927 births 2024 deaths People from Panama City Solidarity Party (Panama) politicians