José Coll y Cuchí[note 1] (January 12, 1877 – July 2, 1960) was a lawyer, writer and the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.

As member of the Chamber, he led the fight against the Foraker Law, also known as the Organic Act of 1900, which established a civilian government in the island.

On September 17, 1922, the three political organizations joined forces and formed the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.

When Smith ran for President of the U.S. in 1928, under the democratic ticket, he invited Coll y Cuchí to come to the U.S. and campaign for him among the Hispanic communities, which he did.

[2] Despite the fact that he was a leader in the independence movement, Coll y Cuchí displayed respect and admiration towards the Americans.

In 1931, when President Herbert Hoover visited Puerto Rico, Coll y Cuchí urged the islanders to greet him with a warm welcome.

[4] His nephew (Edna's son) Jose "Fufi" Santori Coll is a former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster.

He is the only Puerto Rican to have received the Medal of Honor from Spain's "Royal Academy of the Spanish Language" for the best book published during a five-year span.