JosÃ Figueres Ferrer ( September 25 , 1906 - June 8 , 1990 was president of Costa Rica three times . JosÃ MarÃ a HipÃ lito Figueres Ferrer ( 25 September 1906 -- 8 June 1990 ) , served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions : 1948 -- 1949 , 1953 -- 1958 , and 1970 -- 1974 .