Representative John Haines Ware

John Haines Ware III (August 29, 1908 – July 29, 1997) was an American businessman and Republican politician who served as a Representative from Pennsylvania in the United States Congress from 1969 to 1975. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 9th congressional district from 1970 to 1973 and for Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district from 1973 to 1975, completing three terms in office during a significant period in American political history. He also served as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 19th district from 1961 to 1970.

Ware was born in Vineland, New Jersey, on August 29, 1908. He pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, graduating from the Wharton School in 1930. His association with the University of Pennsylvania would continue throughout his life, both through service as a trustee and through later honors established in his name.

Following his graduation, Ware embarked on a successful business career in the energy and utilities sector. He founded the Penn Fuel Gas Company and served as its president for 45 years, guiding the company’s growth and operations over several decades. In addition to his work with Penn Fuel Gas, he served as chair of the board for American Water, further establishing his prominence in regional utility and infrastructure enterprises. His business leadership provided the foundation for his later public service and philanthropic activities.

Ware’s entry into public office began at the local level in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He served as burgess of the borough of Oxford, Pennsylvania, from 1956 to 1960, gaining experience in municipal governance and constituent service. Building on this role, he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 19th district, serving from 1961 to 1970. During his tenure in the state legislature, he became chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican finance committee, reflecting his influence within the state party organization. He also served as a trustee of Lincoln University and of the University of Pennsylvania, contributing to the governance and advancement of higher education institutions in the state.

Ware’s congressional career began when he was elected simultaneously as a Republican to the 91st and 92nd Congresses by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative George Watkins. He took office on November 3, 1970, representing Pennsylvania’s 9th congressional district, and served in that capacity until 1973. Following redistricting, he represented Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district from 1973 to 1975. As a member of the House of Representatives, John Haines Ware participated in the democratic process, contributed to the legislative work of Congress, and represented the interests of his constituents during a period marked by the Vietnam War, social change, and evolving national policy debates. He was reelected to the 93rd Congress but was not a candidate for reelection in 1974, concluding his service in the House on January 3, 1975.

In his later years, Ware remained associated with civic, educational, and philanthropic endeavors. His longstanding relationship with the University of Pennsylvania was commemorated on campus, where the middle college house in the Quadrangle Dormitories was named in his honor. His commitment to youth and community service was also recognized in the Boy Scouts of America: a Boy Scout and Cub Scout camp, part of the Horseshoe Scout Reservation and known as Camp John H. Ware III, was named for him and hosts programs such as summer camps, National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), and camporees. In 1999, the Ware family established the John H. Ware 3rd Endowed Professorship in Alzheimer’s Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, honoring his legacy through support for medical research.

John Haines Ware III died on July 29, 1997, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was interred at Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, Pennsylvania, reflecting his long association with the community he had served as burgess and represented in public life. His contributions to transportation infrastructure were posthumously recognized on May 31, 2002, when the U.S. Route 1 freeway in Chester County, between the Maryland border and Kennett Square, was designated the John H. Ware III Memorial Highway in honor of his efforts to advance the construction of that freeway.