Luis Juan Francisco Benítez de Lugo y Ascanio Enrich (10 March 1916 – 21 December 2008) was a Spanish athlete who presided over a total of 17 National Federations, including Swimming (1968–1972).
[1][4] His family was of Canarian descent and possessed several noble titles, including, among others, the marquisate of Florida since 1685,[5] which was given by King Charles II of Spain to Don Francisco del Hoyo y Calderón Lugo y Benítez de Vergara, Perpetual Ruler of Tenerife.
[4] Benítez de Lugo began his law studies in the mid-1930s, but when the Spanish Civil War broke out, his activism in the Falange made him take refuge in the French embassy to save his life.
[1][6] In 1949, Benítez de Lugo, at the time treasurer and member of Atlético Madrid, played a crucial role in the creation of UD Las Palmas when he mediated with the Castilian Federation, who was the most reluctant to the incorporation of the club.
[6] During his years as Atlético's treasurer, Benítez de Lugo generated the signing of several Canarian footballers, such as Durán, Campos, Arencibia, Farias, Hernández Lobito Negro, Miguel and, above all of them, Alfonso Silva, a figure for whom the marquis always felt a special predilection.
[2] On 20 May 1955, after a confrontation with the Delegación Nacional de Deportes, due to his intention to take the team on a tour of America to raise funds with the government opposition, he was dismissed as president, being replaced by Jesús Suevos.