Jens Wisløff

Jens Juell Wisløff (9 May 1921 – 4 August 1998) was a Norwegian businessman in the asphalt industry and a politician for the Conservative Party.

Political career

He was born in Sarpsborg, and resided at Nesbru in his later life. He was a member of the executive committee of Asker municipal council from 1968 to 1975, and chaired the municipal party chapter from 1971 to 1973.^[1] Ahead of the 1979 election he tried to be nominated as the Conservative Party mayor candidate, but lost out to Eyvind W. Wang.^[2] He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus during the term 1969–1973.^[3]

Professional career

Wisløff completed his education at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1944, and was the CEO of the company Sigurd Hesselberg from 1945 to 1973. From 1973 to 1984 he worked as the chair of Veidekke.^[1] He was also the chair of Vestfjorden Avløpsselskap for fifteen years.^[2] The company Sigurd Hesselberg was later incorporated into Veidekke in 1989.^[4]

Wisløff chaired the publicity body Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken from 1976 to 1989, and the employers' associations Asfaltentreprenørenes Forening and the European Asphalt Pavement Association.^[1] He helped found both these organizations.^[5] From 1980 to 1990 he was the deputy chairman of the Norwegian branch of the Nordic Road Association. He received an honorary prize from this organization in 1993,^[6] and became an honorary member in 1994. In an obituary he was called "the grand old man of asphalt".^[5]

In late 1986, around the time when the Oslo Package 1 was planned, Wisløff surprised many by supporting an increase of the duties on gasoline. The reason was to avoid toll plazas in Greater Oslo in general, specifically those planned by Fjellinjen.^[7] Toll plazas would create congestion, and their administration would be too costly, Wisløff feared.^[8] Gasoline duty was a hot issue in Norwegian politics at the time, as the second cabinet of Kåre Willoch—a fellow Conservative politician—had fallen on a vote of confidence, as the Labour and Progress Party opposed the cabinet's proposed increase of such duties.^[9] Wisløff's suggestion came as a response to the new Minister of Transport, Labour's Kjell Borgen, who recently—shortly after assuming office—had suggested a small increase.^[7]

A devout Christian, Wisløff was a member of the Diocese Council of Oslo in the 1960s, and chaired the YMCA Scouts of Norway from 1958 to 1962. He was also the chair of Asker Museum for twelve years.^[1] During his period, Labråten, the home of Arne and Hulda Garborg, was incorporated into the museum.^[2] Preserving it was a "task ... for the entire Norwegian people", he proclaimed.^[10] He received the Cultural Award of Asker municipality in 1998.^[11]

References

1. "Jens Wisløff 70 år 9. mai" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 19 April 1991.
2. Bakken, Tor Chr., ed. (2008). "Jens Wisløff". Budstikkas store Asker og Bærum-leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. p. 489. ISBN 978-82-573-1534-4.
3. "Jens Wisløff" (in Norwegian). Storting.
4. Henriksen, Petter, ed. (2007). "Veidekke". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
5. Tveter, Asle (28 August 1998). "Jens Wisløff (obituary)". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 13.
6. "Hedret for veiteknikk". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 27 January 1993. p. 10.
7. Monsen, Trygve (1 October 1986). "Jens Wisløff vil overgå statsråd Borgen: øk bensinavgift mer!". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 4.
8. Wormnes, Are (28 January 1986). "Finansiering av Oslos hovedveier: et hovedppoeng å unngå bomstasjoner". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 4.
9. Stanghelle, Harald. "Kåre Willoch". In Helle, Knut. Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
10. Kolberg, Anna Bjørg (21 July 1994). "Garborgs Labråten kan bli museum". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
11. Annexstad, Gerd M. (24 August 1998). "Jens Wisløff (obituary)". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 11.