José Félix Garay

José Félix Garay Figueroa (21 May 1910 – 20 November 1997) was a Chilean surgeon and politician, member of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC).

Biography He was born in La Unión on 21 May 1910, the son of Miguel Ángel Garay Burr and Lidia Figueroa Bielefelt. He died on 20 November 1997 in Santiago.

Married to Irma King Grassau, he had a daughter named María Consuelo Garay King.

He completed his primary and secondary education at Colegio San Pedro Nolasco and the Liceo de Aplicación. After finishing school, he entered the University of Chile, where he graduated as a surgeon in 1936. On 15 December 1957, he obtained his specialization in Public Health.

Political career In 1932 he co-founded the Social League of Chile, and the following year contributed to the foundation of the Popular Corporative Party. Finally, in 1957 he participated in the creation of the Christian Democratic Party, where he remained until his death. Within this party, he served as national councilor between 1964 and 1965.

In the 1965 parliamentary elections, he was elected Deputy for the 25th Departmental Grouping, comprising Ancud, Castro, Quinchao and Palena. He served on the Committees of Medical-Social Assistance and Hygiene; Internal Government; Economy and Commerce; Finance; Agriculture and Colonization; and Roads and Public Works. He was also a member of the Special Committee on Sports (1965); on combating alcoholism (1965 and 1967); on the economic development of the provinces of Chiloé, Aysén and Magallanes (1965–1966); and the Special Investigative Committee on Football (1967–1968). In the 1969 parliamentary elections, he ran for Senator for the 10th Provincial Constituency of Chiloé, Aysén and Magallanes, but was not elected. He was the one who proposed building a bridge over the Chacao Channel to connect the Isla Grande de Chiloé with the mainland.

In the 1973 parliamentary elections, he finally was elected Deputy for the 25th Departmental Group. He joined the Committees on National Defense; Physical Education and Sports; and Latin American Integration. His legislative work was interrupted by the coup d’état of 11 September 1973 and the subsequent dissolution of the National Congress.