Julio García Luis

Born in Sagua la Grande on June 26, 1942. He never knew he was from Sagua, it was really a surprise to learn that 69 years ago he had been born in this land, from which so many journalists of well-deserved territorial, national, and international prestige have emerged.

In addition to being born in the Villa del Undoso, there must have been some other tie that bound him to his native soil; he came periodically to Villa Clara, a province with which he felt very identified. From a young age he left Sagua la Grande, but that heritage that this land imprints on its children went with him everywhere.

He actually prepared himself as a teacher out of necessity; in his time, a student had no choice, not everyone could aspire to prepare themselves for just anything; what was within reach of his parents was for him to enter the Normal School of Santa Clara, then he arrived at the Superior school, which back then was seventh and eighth grades, from there the idea of becoming a teacher emerged.

He was a teacher for the first volunteer educators, then worked three years at the Teacher Training School of Topes de Collantes, where he studied at the University.

He learned Russian through classes broadcast on the radio, and later also English and French, thanks to the television lectures of Universidad para Todos. Like any ordinary person, he would sit down at dawn in front of the television, notebook in hand, "and the world could fall apart, but there he was, in front of the screen."

At Topes de Collantes he was Party secretary, and then work for the Central Committee began to be organized in Havana; as a result of that, in 1966, they requested him to work in that body.

He began in the Commission of Revolutionary Orientation, which coincided with the process against sectarianism, a very dangerous situation that occurred in Cuba in 1962 and later in 1967; this led to a change in the direction of the newspaper Granma and several colleagues were put in charge of the newspaper, among them was he. He was designated responsible for the ideological page; through this situation he began to develop as a journalist.

Just as he became a teacher out of necessity, he entered journalism by circumstance, which did not displease him; on the contrary, he became familiar with it and came to work for 20 years in the newspaper. He learned everything empirically, never pursued any theoretical studies; it was based on practical necessity and the tasks he had to fulfill.

He also taught in the neighborhood. His sense of commitment meant he always supported his students, through thick and thin. And whether at a vigil or at a patriotic march, there he was in the front with the students, "he would prepare a small bottle of cold tea, put it in his pocket, and off he would go with his boys."

Julito also remained very attentive to every human being around him, and to the destiny of his country, which he loved deeply. This is how he projected himself throughout his entire professional trajectory, whether working in the PCC, or in the newspaper Granma; the same as president of the Union of Journalists of Cuba, as in the newspaper Trabajadores, or as dean of the Faculty of Communication.

He began to practice journalism in 1967 at the newspaper Granma, where he held various positions, among which stand out editorialist and chief of the Ideological Page. He provided coverage of important visits by President Fidel Castro to various countries and international meetings.

President of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (1987-1993). Vice President of the International Organization of Journalists for Latin America (1987-1993). Editor of the newspaper Trabajadores (1994-1998). Appointed Dean of the Faculty of Communication of the University of Havana (1998). Author of texts on journalism. He practiced opinion journalism as a contributor on radio and television. Editor-in-chief of the magazine Habanera, of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples. Doctor in Communication Sciences. He received the Replica of the Machete of Máximo Gómez.

Relevant Cuban journalist, National Journalism Award "José Martí" for lifetime achievement in 2011.

Volunteer teacher, profound editorialist and chronicler of the newspaper Granma, Trabajadores and other Cuban media outlets, President of the Union of Journalists of Cuba, Dean of the Faculty of Communication of the University of Havana and teacher of several generations of journalists, the sudden loss of Julio causes great commotion in the journalism sector of the country.

Despite his recent retirement, he continued to work actively as a member of the National Committee of UPEC, journalism instructor and in political and professional activities.

The following text is by Abdul Nasser Thabet Teijero, a graduate of Journalism from the Faculty of Communication and has been shared by Professor Julio's students, past and present.

Ethics sometimes put us to sleep, the subject, of course, and him too, it's the truth, to deny it would be to dishonor his memory. But suddenly we would wake up drooling a bit, conscious of our negligence, seeking composure in those so uncomfortable chairs, and we were struck by his gaze, penetrating, sweet, educational. No other subject suited that short man, sturdy, with strong hands, as strong as his intellect, erudition and nobility better. Nobility, that's the word, the right one.

How many students were impressed by his wisdom, an almost irritating deliberation, but equally calming and even amusing? I remember he was always "in everything": Culture Festivals, Caribbean Games, marches, conferences, everything, he never missed one, always with us. There was almost never a "no" coming from his lips, he always found a way, the appropriate form, the exact solution.

Upon finishing the degree it was impossible not to miss him; he left with the "damned roof tile" -the one that new students don't know because they moved to a more comfortable place-, the gossip in the hallways, the parties, the cafeteria and the coffee maker, Juan Carlos's pastries, Felo, the radio base, Cori…everything. But we never thought we would lose him like this, forever, never, just as one never thinks of losing beloved people.

Proceeding from rural teaching and the volunteer teachers movement, he initiated from the newspaper Granma a fruitful and brilliant career sustained by four of the most solid pillars: political commitment to the Revolution and its people as protagonists, vocation, talent and culture.

He who by exceptional merit of his own became, early on from 1967 until 1989, the editorialist of depth, stature, keen edge and admirable command of language and style, who mobilized by unleashing reasoning.

But who at the same time set an example as an acute and sensitive chronicler of the displacements of our Commander-in-Chief through dozens of countries, whose vivid accounts have become revealing historical references. And without ceasing to venture with identical mastery into other journalistic genres and other media, printed and audiovisual, national and foreign.

The pages of the newspaper Trabajadores, of whose collective he was part from 1993 to 1998, leave convincing testimony of an effective effort, week after week, to accompany and explain those difficult years. It was a task he undertook and continued to develop whenever he could, even after accepting the complex mission of serving as dean of the Faculty of Communication of the University of Havana.

He who by his well-earned prestige received the overwhelming approval of the journalism sector that made him its President of UPEC, which he turned into a stronghold of militant and creative journalism.

To him are owed important texts for professional improvement and teacher training of new generations such as those related to opinion genres, Ethics, Deontology and morality in Journalism and Social Communication, contents that he transmitted likewise in a teaching practice that has left deep and lasting marks on several generations of students.

Among his valuable academic contributions to Journalistic Science, which include presentations at national and international forums, his doctoral thesis titled "The Regulation of the Press in Cuba": moral and deontological referents stands out, which sheds lucid insights for better performance in the face of professional challenges.