The former mayor of León, Manuel Arroyo Quiñones, proclaimed the virtues of the KING meat-stuffed dish in El Bierzo at the 1978 Bembibre’s Botillo Festival. A young event that was consolidated year by year. The politician, born in Burgos in 1922, was linked to the town of Boeza for being his wife’s homeland.

Degree in Philosophy and Letters, he was mayor of the León City Council between 1967 – 1973. He was also a deputy in the Cortes ,1964 – 1971, representing the Local Administration. He was national councillor in the previous period too. In the political field, beyond the province of León, he was appointed Civil Governor of Pontevedra in 1973 and, later, General Director of Professional Training as well as General Director of Secondary Education.

Precisely, his visit to Bembibre was preceded by the creation of the vocational training centre, which led the then mayor, Fernando Calvo, to impose the Villa’s Gold Badge on Arroyo.

Arroyo Quiñones also served as vice president of the León Chamber of Commerce and Industry in León.