Omar Torrijos was born on February 13, 1929 in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama as Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera.

He died on August 1, 1981. [1]

Educated at a military school in El Salvador, Torrijos also studied military-related subjects in the United States
and Venezuela. In 1952 he was commissioned second lieutenant in the National Guard of Panama (Guardia
Nacional; the country’s only military force), becoming lieutenant colonel (1966), colonel (1968), and brigadier
general (1969). In October 1968 he participated in a coup by the National Guard that overthrew President
Arnulfo Arias, and he gradually emerged as leader of the new military junta with the title Chief of Government
and Supreme Leader of the Panamanian Revolution. [2] He instituted wide-ranging economic and social reforms,
espousing birth control, expropriating land, and attacking Panama's powerful families. In September 1972, an
elected assembly granted Torrijos full civil and military powers for six years. He successfully negotiated new
Panama Canal treaties (1977) with U.S. President Jimmy Carter that transferred the Canal Zone and ultimately
the canal to Panamanian control. [3]
Omar Torrijos has been generally regarded as a personable man though varying accounts appear contradictory.
He married Raquel Pauzner in 1954 and had three children. Having spent most of his time with campesinos
during the weekends, he had little time to spare for his children.
Torrijos has been described as a heavy drinker who enjoyed Havana cigars and fine women. However, he was
humble and respectful as he listened to the plights of middle and lower-class people. [4]

MARK PALERMO
(1) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868930/
(2) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Omar-Torrijos
(3) https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/people/history/panama/torrijos-herrera-omar
(4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Torrijos