Rafael Lecuona

Rafael Lecuona competed in three Olympics for Cuba as a gymnast, those of 1948-56. He also starred for the Cuban gymnastics team at the Pan American Games, winning a gold medal in the 1951 pommelled horse, and six silver medals in 1951-55 – 1951 all-around, vault, rings, and team; and 1955 pommelled horse and team. At the 1951 Pan American Games Lecuona became friendly with American gymnast Bill Roetzheim, which led to Lecuona receiving a scholarship to Florida State, where he starred on the gymnastics team from 1953-56. He captained the team in 1955-56, led Florida State to the national championship, and was named All-American on the pommelled horse.

After Castro’s takeover of Cuba, Lecuona developed an interest in politics and earned a masters’ degree in that field in 1968 and a PhD in 1970. In 1970 he also left Cuba, emigrating to the United States with his family, settling in Laredo, Texas. Lecuona became a professor of international studies at Texas A&I University (later Texas A&M International), teaching at that school for 32 years. He was the first chairman of arts & sciences at Texas A&I.