Gunnar Böös

Gunnar Böös was the son of the first city commissioner and court chaplain Erik Böös. After graduating from high school in 1912, Gunnar studied philosophy and law at Lund University, earning bachelor’s degrees in both subjects. He earned his reserve officer’s degree in 1917 and was promoted to lieutenant in the Skåne Infantry Regiment reserve in 1924. Beginning in 1920, Böös worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Board of Commerce. At the latter, he was appointed notary and then secretary. In similar positions, Böös worked for the Stockholm City Hall Court from 1932-39. He was also an advisor for maritime law in several institutions and committees and acted as a representative at International Labour Conferences in Geneva. In 1939, Böös went to Paris as a commercial counsellor at the Swedish embassy and later that year as a special rapporteur at the Ministry of Public Finance. In 1943, he was appointed Commercial Counsellor.

From 1943-45, Böös was Head of the Commercial Board at the Swedish Maritime Agency and Deputy Director General until 1959. Subsequently, he joined the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation in London as an expert and became an executive member of the Nordic Action Committee for Oil Spill Prevention at Sea. He was instrumental in founding the Nordic Oil Spill Prevention Union in 1963 and became its chairman. Böös published books on maritime and labour law.

For his merits, Böös was appointed Knight of the Order of the North Star and the Order of Vasa, received the Finnish White Rose and other foreign orders and distinctions. From the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, he received an environmental protection diploma in 1974. He represented Malmö GFK when he competed in the 1912 Olympic Games. There, Böös lost all five of his bouts in round one and was eliminated.

Böös’ wife, Vera Maria (née Dohrman), was a director of gymnastics. The marriage remained childless.