Alfonso Valdés Cobián

Alfonso Valdés Cobián
Born	Template:Birth date Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Died	February 14, 1988(1988-02-14) (aged 97)
Occupation(s)	Industrialist, politician, sports team owner
Known for	Co-founder of Cervecería India; owner of Indios de Mayagüez; Puerto Rico Senator

Alfonso Valdés Cobián (June 23, 1890 – February 14, 1988) was a prominent figure in industry, finance, sports, and politics. He played a key role in establishing Cervecería India, which stands as Puerto Rico's leading beer brewery.

Early years

Originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Alfonso was born to Ramon and Encarnación Cobián. His family relocated to Manhattan, where he attended the Hamilton institute and completed his studies in electrical engineering at Columbia University in 1911.

Afterward, the family returned to Puerto Rico. In 1910, his father launched the "Mayaguez Light, Power and Ice Company," a utility enterprise based in Mayagüez. Alfonso assumed the position of vice president by 1915. This company was eventually integrated into the Puerto Rico Electric Energy Authority.

Cervecería India

The city of Mayagüez earned the nickname "La Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" because of the superior quality of its water sourced from the Yagüez River. Alfonso’s brother Sabino validated this purity through laboratory analysis conducted in New York.

In 1937, Alfonso joined forces with his siblings Sabino and Ramón to create the Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico, which later became known as Cervecería India. Competing against local breweries such as "Real" and "Corona," Cervecería India expanded under Alfonso’s direction as chairman and president, becoming the island’s foremost producer of beer as well as canned and bottled soft drinks.

In addition to Cervecería India, Valdés Cobián held the franchise for Orange Crush beverages and served as president of both Ana Maria Sugar Company and Insular Feed Mill. For a quarter-century, he was the principal shareholder and chairman of Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño, which was then Puerto Rico’s second-largest banking institution.

Team owner

Valdés Cobián was instrumental in founding Puerto Rico’s winter baseball league and owned the Indios de Mayagüez (Mayagüez Indians), recognized as the most triumphant team in the history of the Puerto Rican League. Established in 1938, this team joined the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League (LBPPR) upon its inception. During its formative years, ownership was managed by a group led by Valdés Cobián.

Politician

In 1917, Valdés Cobián was elected to represent Mayagüez in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, a role he fulfilled until 1928. That same year marked his initial election to the Senate of Puerto Rico, where he served three terms and also assumed leadership as president of the Puerto Rican Republican Party.

Later years

By 1960, he had become president of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association. Residing in Villa Caparra, San Juan, Valdés Cobián passed away on February 8, 1988, at age 97 following a heart attack. He was laid to rest at Porta Coeli Cemetery in Bayamón. He left behind his wife Grace García (married in 1939), two daughters, a son named Alfonso Jr., and five grandchildren. Following his death, his wife took over management of the brewery until her retirement in 2002, after which their granddaughter, Camalia Valdés, assumed leadership as company president.

Legacy

To honor his contributions, Mayagüez named the street housing Cervecería India Inc. as Avenida (Blvd.) Alfonso Valdez.

See also

• Cervecería India
• Indios de Mayagüez
• List of Puerto Ricans