“Remember my name. You will find it everywhere.” That could have been the motto of Edison Junqueira Passos.
Edison Passos, a suburb in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro. It is a place that carries the name of a man who shaped the face of Rio de Janeiro. But who was Edison Passos?
Born in 1893, Edison Passos was an accomplished engineer and politician. He left an indelible mark on the city. He served as a federal deputy for the Federal District from 1951 to 1954.
Passos began his career as an engineer in Uberaba. There he conducted topographical surveys and oversaw various construction projects. His expertise led him to the Estrada de Ferro Mossoró and the Estrada de Ferro Goiás. He contributed to sanitation engineering.
Returning to Rio de Janeiro, Edison Passos joined the city’s engineering department. He steadily rose through the ranks. He eventually became the sub-director of works. He reformed the Building Code. He held high positions. These included director of public cleaning and director of heritage and registration.
Passos became a university professor. He taught Construction Materials, Land and Foundations at the National Faculty of Architecture of the University of Brazil. Today, it is the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro UFRJ.
In 1937, Edison Passos was appointed Secretary of Transportation and Public Works of the Federal District. He held this position for eight years. He oversaw a major urban reform in the city. This included the opening of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Avenida Brasil. He also oversaw the Avenida Tijuca that now bears his name. Passos also duplicated the Leme Tunnel and the Pasmado Tunnel. He became known as the creator of modern Rio de Janeiro.
Edison Passos was elected President of the Engineering Club in 1943. He served for ten consecutive years until his death in 1954. During his tenure, he fulfilled his dream of building the club’s headquarters. It was named the Edifício Edison Passos in his honor. He also became a director of Banco Fluminense da Produção in 1944.
In Congress, Passos chaired the Transportation Committee. He created the National Highway Plan. He played a key role in changing the route of the Rio-Bahia highway.
Passos represented Brazil at various conventions in the United States and South America. His expertise enhanced Brazilian engineering. He also published five technical books in the field of engineering.
Edison Passos’s name is found throughout Rio de Janeiro. Besides the Edifício Edison Passos. The Avenida Edison Passos crosses the Tijuca Forest. The neighborhood of Edson Passos is named in his honor. The railway station of Édson Passos is in the homonymous neighborhood of Mesquita.
Although the Estádio Giulite Coutinho is located in the neighboring Cosmorama. It is easily accessible from the Edison Passos train station. The stadium is often referred to by the station’s name.
So, as you explore the neighborhood of Edison Passos. Remember the man who shaped Rio de Janeiro. His vision and dedication live on in the streets and structures around you.