Panama President. He received his primary education at the Colegio San Jose-La Salle in Colon and the Escuela Superior de Cristobal in the Canal Zone. He then earned a degree in Public Administration from the University of Panama and another in Hotel Administration from the University of Miami, Dade County, Florida, USA. Bazan was elected to the National Assembly in 1945, serving one term, before becoming Mayor of Colon (1948-56). He returned to the National Assembly from 1956 to 1960. Bazan entered the executive with his appointment as Minister of Government and Justice from 1959 to 1960 in the cabinet of President Ernesto de la Guardia. It was during this time that he thwarted a Cuban supported coup attempt by diplomat Roberto Arias, for which he became the only civilian to be awarded the National Guard's Merit Medal of Honor. He then served as second vice president in the Roberto Chiari administration (1960-64). Bazan assumed the presidency from April 10 to 14, 1962, acting in Chiari's absence. His two decrees prohibited the use of Canal Zone transportation in Colon and Panama City for the use of tourist business and gave other religious missions equal rights and recognition to that of the Catholic Church. From 1965 to 1967, he again served as Minister of Government and Justice in the Marco Robles administration. In 1968, he was elected as second vice president to President Arnulfo Arias Madrid, however, a successful coup by the National Guard took place on October 11, after only 11 days. He was forced into exile for five years before being allowed to return. Panama would remain a dictatorship until the US led invasion of 1989. Among his other accomplishments, he was instrumental in establishing, developing, and defending the interests of the Colon Free Zone, serving as board member, economic adviser, and general manager. He was a volunteer member of the Colon Fire Department from 1932, attaining the rank of Commander in Chief in 1959. He also promoted professional sports as co-founder and president of the National Soccer Federation, organizer of the Professional Baseball League of Panama, and a member of the Professional Boxing Commission of Colon. His domestic honors include the Collar of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (Panama's highest honor), the Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, and others. He also received many international awards from across Latin America, in addition to the French Legion of Honor.