Edson Queiroz at 100: The Legacy of Building with Purpose
Born on April 12, 1925, in Cascavel, a rural town in Ceará, Edson Queiroz would become one of the most influential and principled entrepreneurs in Brazilian history. His life was a testament to what can happen when bold vision meets long-term discipline, and when business success is inseparable from social commitment.
At a time when many in Brazil's Northeast faced scarcity, migration, and exclusion from national development, Edson Queiroz chose not to leave — he chose to build from within.
🛠 From Modest Beginnings to an Industrial Legacy
He began with a single truck transporting agricultural goods, but his ambition was never limited by capital. He believed in reinvestment, honest relationships, and knowing his market with depth and proximity.
What followed was the gradual, highly strategic creation of what is today the Grupo Edson Queiroz, a diversified conglomerate present in all 27 Brazilian states, employing over 10,000 people and operating in sectors such as:
Nacional Gás (one of the largest LPG distributors in Latin America)
Minalba Brasil (mineral water and beverage industry)
Sistema Verdes Mares (a major regional media group, including TV Verdes Mares, affiliated with Globo Network)
Agro-industrial operations in livestock, dairy and coffee
Education, notably through the Universidade de Fortaleza (Unifor)
He expanded with rigor and care, understanding the strength of vertical integration and the need to combine private efficiency with public responsibility.
🎓 A Builder of Minds
In 1973, Edson founded Unifor – University of Fortaleza, a private institution envisioned not just as a school, but as a center for regional transformation. His conviction was clear: “A region cannot grow if it does not educate its people.”
Unifor became a model of private higher education in Brazil, with modern infrastructure, academic freedom, and a commitment to making excellence accessible. It remains one of the most prestigious universities in the country, deeply connected to its community and to the economic development of Ceará and the Northeast.
📺 Culture, Communication, and Identity
Through the acquisition and development of Sistema Verdes Mares, Edson Queiroz helped to amplify Northeastern culture and voices. He believed that economic development should never come at the expense of cultural identity, and saw local media as a way to foster civic values, regional pride, and access to information.
🧭 A Code of Honor
More than titles, numbers or buildings, what defined Edson Queiroz was his character. Known for his discipline, directness and incorruptibility, he refused to compromise on values. One of his most famous phrases remains etched in the memory of those who worked with him:
“If I ever go back on my word, may the ground open up beneath my feet.”
In an era when opportunism and short-termism often dominated Brazilian business, he built slowly, and permanently. His legacy is not one of volatility, but of foundations.
🏆 Recognition and Impact
Though he passed away in 1982 at just 57 years of age, his impact continues across generations. His family preserved and strengthened the group’s core values, expanding its footprint while remaining headquartered in Fortaleza, a symbolic and strategic choice that reflects the belief that a global company can remain rooted in its land.
Edson Queiroz was honored posthumously with:
Tributes in the Brazilian Senate and Federal Congress
The Medal of Industrial Merit by the National Confederation of Industry
Numerous awards for civic contribution and social leadership in the Northeast
His name given to Fortaleza’s convention center (Centro de Eventos do Ceará), one of the largest in Latin America
🌎 Legacy at 100
In this centennial year, we look back not just to honor the man, but to ask what his life teaches us:
That leadership can be rooted in ethics
That companies can rise without forgetting their origin
That education is infrastructure
And that long-term vision is a form of courage
At Latitude3, we believe true innovation lies not only in disruption, but in construction. Edson Queiroz didn’t create hype, he created institutions. His is the story of a man who could have gone anywhere, but chose to stay and build.
📍 Read other stories in our “Inspiring Brazilians” series at www.latitude3.net
#EdsonQueiroz100Years #GrupoEdsonQueiroz #InspiringBrazilians #LegacyWithPurpose #LeadershipFromTheNortheast #Unifor #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Ceará #Latitude3 #CentennialTribute #BrazilianExcellence
