Raúl P. Guitart Rodríguez

Raúl P. Guitart Rodríguez (1893-1973)

One of the most distinguished figures in the educational field in our Villa. He was born in 1893. He was not a Güinero but dedicated the best years of his life as Principal of Kate Plumer Bryan Memorial (American School) where he established modern teaching methods such as Güines Plan and others, that educated and helped to totally form a large group of young people from Güines, men and women, that later on served the Villa and the country, from prominent positions.

He was a learned man, cultivated and of unshakeable Christian faith, knowing how to instill in his students, the principles and moral basics that were his guide throughout his life.

He was a distinguished scientific man, being his specialty that of Malacology (the branch of the Natural Sciences and specially of the Zoology that studies the mollusks) that made him gather a collection of specimens which was considered one of the more organized and complete of Cuba, comprising most of the mollusks of the island, besides having discovered new species some of them named after him. For example, there is a Cuban mollusk whose scientific name in Latin is Ligus fasciatus guitarti, named in honor of his discoverer and classifier.

Also in the field of Botany, he discovered a beautiful Cuban cactus that received the scientific name of Melocactus guitarti, also honoring his discoverer.

When the Communist system arrived in Cuba, they confiscated without indemnification his dear American School compelling the Faculty and Dr. Guitart to resign, when they did not accept to teach while controlled by the atheist system established in Cuba, which went against their Christian principles. Going into exile to the United States with his family since 1961, he died in the city of New Castle, Indiana on April 2, 1973.

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