LIFE TRIBUTES: Obituaries and remembrances.
1936-2018
3 DECEMBER 1936 16 OCTOBER 2018 George Boss was born in Berwyn, Illinois, near Chicago, to a German-Czech immigrant family.
A gifted athlete in several sports, starring in football at Hinsdale High School. He was offered several scholarships to university but chose the University of Utah as they offered two of his friends places who could not afford the fees. While there he became President of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, discovered golf and became a lifelong addict.
After graduation he was offered positions with the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Pirates for baseball. However, George decided law school was the route with more potential. However, he had to first spend a short stint in the Navy to fulfill his NROTC commitment during which time he was sent to the Mediterranean and assisted in the “Lebanese Campaign”, of which we do not have details but understand that his ship fired a shot towards something!! Luckily, his baseball talent caught the eye of the Admiral, so he spent his remaining time trying to win the fleet tournament!
Following his brief military career he returned to Utah for law school, went to work for a small law firm there and even tried a case before the Supreme Court of the U.S., which he won.
While in Salt Lake he married his first wife, Ruth, and had Deborah and Stephen. Following a divorce, George moved to California to a law firm and then the Cayman Corporation. Always ready for adventure, he went to London in 1970 where he joined a friend from Denver in his new oil and gas law firm. The North Sea was just coming onboard, so the opportunities were enormous.
In London he met his second wife, Anne Orton – first seeing her at her father’s memorial service. It took another three years and a blind date to finally meet. Almost an instant union, they married in May, 1974, and George inherited a second daughter, Elizabeth, plus a mother-in-law who enjoyed both his love and outstanding patience.
The Houston law firm, Vinson & Elkins, bought Horigan & Boss as their first international office. George stayed for 5 years and was privileged to work with interesting men such as: John Connally, Armand Hammer, Mark McCormack - even King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
Anne and George travelled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia - exploring the world- some 90 countries - where they golfed, scuba dived and experienced so many cultures. Favourites were East Africa and Asia, particularly Hong Kong and Japan.
His ventures included a container ship, now lost somewhere in the Caribbean, a made-to-measure golf company, restaurants in Spain, importing coal from Alabama into Europe, and others. Some of his favourite times were playing the ProAms with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Sevi Ballesteros, Craig Stadler, Greg Norman …. The family enjoyed 35 beautiful years in London and Marbella, Spain.
Moving to Houston in 2005 to be closer to Anne’s mother gave George more opportunities to explore, and he quickly involved himself in the pipeline business, which he enjoyed until the end.
Life was never dull. George loved the chosen path and enjoyed every day, every venture, and every experience for better or worse – he lived life on his terms and did indeed do it “his way”.
He leaves his wife, Anne, a son, Stephen Boss, daughters Deborah Chadwick and Elizabeth Omlie and five grandchildren – George Timberlake Omlie, Max Omlie, Jessica Omlie, Caroline Chadwick and Elizabeth Chadwick.