When he came to Lehigh from Cuba, Eduardo Beato Fowler dreamed of becoming his country’s chief railroad engineer. He would go on to surpass that dream. After earning an engineering degree from Lehigh, Beato took part in building two important Cuban harbors—Havana Harbor and Santiago de Cuba Harbor—and helped design and build the bridges on the Carretera Central, the highway that runs the island’s length. Later, as Havana’s chief engineer, he was in charge of all government engineering, with major projects that included the landmark Malecón esplanade.

As a tribute to the man who instilled in him a strong work ethic and a respect for family and country, Beato’s grandson, Fernando Beato, made a special contribution to Lehigh. Take a close look at the covers for Lehigh’s drums and percussion instruments. Many bear the name Beato, and the orchestra bags carry a memorial: “Eduardo Beato Fowler...Class of 1908.”