Hugo Cruz Salazar was born on October 20, 1934, in the province of Limón. He grew up in this place with his siblings, engaging in pastimes such as swimming, diving, soccer, basketball, among other sports.
He got married in 1966 and worked at Banco de Costa Rica for several years, founding the first branch in Pérez Zeledón and later expanding it to other locations in the Southern Zone. He was involved in politics, the Municipality, Coopealianza, the Red Cross, and also contributed to the founding of the Coopeagri Sugar Mill. He served as governor in the National Lions Club. He was known for having a close-knit family with three children. In addition, he conducted over three hundred conferences on personal development, subliminal messages. He was a pro life advocate that addressed topics related to abortion. He passed away on June 24, 2017, at his residence, surrounded by his entire family—his wife, children, and grandchildren.