Being a driver and bodyguard for a bank director in Spain during the 1980s and 1990s was no easy task. The terrorist group ETA had targeted the Catalan banker, which at the time required changes to some routines.

Armando Guerra considers himself fortunate to have worked in his service. Guerra describes Valls as humble and simple. He shares that “he wanted to go unnoticed, so much so that he would often get out of the car either before or after the location he was heading to, not right at the door.”

He describes Valls as a tireless worker: “from 9 to 9, and often taking work home with him.” However, Guerra recalls that didn’t stop him from being mindful of others. He recounts how, on the days when Valls’ favorite team, Real Madrid, played, Don Luis would ask about the game’s schedule and leave the bank early to make it home in time to watch.

Guerra shares that Valls was a special person, thoughtful and attentive to others: “When drivers from other colleagues visited, the first thing he would ask was for them to be taken care of, offered food or whatever they needed. According to the drivers, this was something only Valls would do.”

He also recounts, in a deeply personal note, how Valls took an interest in and paid for a medical procedure for Guerra’s son—not because Guerra had mentioned it, but because Valls learned about it through others. Armando’s gratitude runs so deep that he believes “Don Luis is still looking out for him, by his side to this day.”

Guerra’s story concludes with the most challenging chapter of Valls’ life: his illness. Even then, “despite everything, he kept working from home.” The driver affirms, “Don Luis worked until the very end.”