Luis María de Ybarra
Luis María de Ybarra y Oriol | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Getxo, Biscay, Spain |
| Died | March 10, 2001 (aged 88) Neguri, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, entrepreneur, sports administrator |
| Known for | Leading Fuerzas Eléctricas del Oeste; member of Iberduero; vice president of Banco de Vizcaya (1966–1976); president of Royal Spanish Golf Federation (1959–1965) |
Luis María de Ybarra y Oriol (20 November 1912 – 10 March 2001) was a prominent Spanish financier, entrepreneur, and sports administrator. He led Fuerzas Eléctricas del Oeste, participated as a member of Iberduero, held the position of vice president at Banco de Vizcaya between 1966 and 1976, and served as the fourth president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation from 1959 to 1965.
Early life, education, and personal life
Luis María entered the world in Getxo, Biscay, on 20 November 1912 as the youngest child of , 1st Marquis of Arriluce de Ybarra, and María Ángeles de Oriol y Urigüen. His childhood unfolded in Neguri, an upscale neighborhood where his family had established residence since the late 1800s.
Prior to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, he completed his studies at the Commercial University of Deusto and wed Flora Zubiría y Calbetón on 11 February 1936. After his father, brother, and nephews were detained and killed aboard the Cabo Quilates prison ship, Luis María spent several months in concealment, apart from his wife and infant daughter who had taken refuge in San Sebastián.
Career in the press
The newspaper ("The Basque People") was founded on 1 May 1910 by his father Fernando along with his uncles Gabriel and Emilio. This publication merged with El Correo Español on 12 April 1938 to form El Correo. In December 1939, Javier Ybarra Bergé—Gabriel’s son—was appointed CEO, with Luis María serving among the advisory board.
Banking career
Together with his cousin Javier Ybarra Bergué, the two remaining members of the Ybarra-Zubiría lineage held influential positions within key financial and energy institutions that shaped Spain’s postwar economy.
On 7 July 1937, following his father’s passing, Luis María assumed directorship of Hidroeléctrica Ibérica. In 1944, he orchestrated its merger with , resulting in the creation of Iberduero, ranked among the top five global companies in its sector. He occupied the vice presidency until 1950.
His tenure in banking extended from 1937 until 1976. In November 1937, he joined Banco de Vizcaya’s Board of Directors—a bank co-founded by his uncle Gabriel in 1902. He served as vice president from 1966 to 1976 and continued as a director until shortly before Banco de Vizcaya merged with Banco de Bilbao in late 1987. His son Luis María de Ybarra y Zubiría succeeded him on the board.
In 1975, Ybarra proposed Ángel Galíndez and Federico Lipperheide for leadership roles as president and vice president at Banco de Vizcaya. Together with Luis María and uncle Fernando Ybarra, they formed the institution’s central management team. Meanwhile, Banco de Bilbao remained under another branch of the family, with Emilio Ybarra Churruca holding a senior executive role.
Other endeavours
From April 1959 to January 1965, Ybarra led as the fourth president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation. On 6 June 1966, he was honored with a Medal of Merit in Golf by the federation alongside distinguished personalities including Javier de Arana.
He also belonged to the Privy Council of Juan de Borbón, connected through familial relations such as his brother-in-law Juan Tornos who served in Don Juan's Diplomatic Cabinet. Furthermore, his elder brother’s widow—after her husband’s death during the Civil War—acted as lady-in-waiting to Borbón.
A committed Catholic, Ybarra actively supported charitable organizations like the , and played a significant role in establishing both the and the University of Navarre. At this university, he maintained close ties with the Business and Humanism Institute which he helped found; he served as its executive president before becoming honorary president from 1986 until his passing.
Death
Ybarra passed away at his residence in Neguri on 10 March 2001 following a lengthy illness. His funeral service was held on 13 March at the parish church of San Pedro Apóstol. Exactly one year later, on 10 March 2002, his son—aged 59 at the time—continued as the only representative of the Ybarra family on the BBVA board, preserving the link between the modern bank and its historic legacy.