José de Jesús Martínez


José de Jesús Martínez was a poet, playwright, philosopher, pilot and mathematician and a former aide to General Omar Torrijos Herrera, ruler of Panama from 1968 to 1981. Through his association with Torrijos, Martínez became a major figure in Graham Greene's 1984 book Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement.

Early life

Martínez was born in Managua in 1929.

Career

Martínez became a Panamanian citizen and an aide to General Omar Torrijos Herrera, ruler of Panama from 1968 to 1981. Martínez was known as "Chuchú Martínez" in the intellectual circles, and later as "Sergeant Chuchu" among the military.
Martínez was professor of Marxist philosophy at Panama University and also professor of mathematics.
In literature, Martínez was awarded the National Theater Prize in Madrid in 1952 for his play, La Perrera. In 1969 and 1971 he won Panama's national literary prize Premio Ricardo Miro for his plays and philosophical essays. For his book, Mi General Torrijos he won Cuba's Casa de Las Americas prize.
Through his association with Torrijos, Martínez became a major figure in Graham Greene's 1984 book Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement.

Death

Martínez died, aged 61, in 1991.

Selected publications