The Ware family has established the first-ever distinguished professorship in the School of Physical Education at West Virginia University and has created four new scholarship endowments.
According to Scot Ware, the gift honors his parents, WVU alumni Alfred F. and Dolores Jamison Ware. In addition to the Ware Distinguished Professorship, the gift includes two Ware Presidential Scholarships, one for students from GreenbrierCounty and one for MonongaliaCounty students, and two Ware Student-Athlete Scholarships. The Presidential Scholarships, made through The Ware Family Foundation, are in recognition of his parentsheritage. Al Ware is from Rupert, GreenbrierCounty, while Dolores Ware hails from Morgantown.
Al and Dolores Ware stated,”The Professorship is our familys expression of gratitude for the gift of education that changed our lives some 50 years ago. The results are reflected in our life experiences, careers and multidimensional family�€�What an exciting, stimulating and enjoyable journey it has been! �€~Thank you WVU seems hardly sufficient to declare the depth of our gratitude.”
The gift was made to the WVU Foundation in conjunction with the $250 million Building Greatness Campaign: West Virginia University . Al Ware serves on the National Campaign Committee.
“The Ware family has provided exceptional support to West VirginiaUniversity through its previous gifts and Als and Doloresservice to the University community, demonstrating the familys commitment to the well-being of WVU . These splendid gifts will continue that commitment,”said F. Duke Perry, president and CEO of the WVU Foundation.
School of Physical Education Dean Dana D. Brooks said,”The Ware Distinguished Professorship will be a significant step in enhancing the School of Physical Educations commitment to quality education by attracting, retaining and supporting an exceptional faculty member. The Ware Distinguished Professorship enhances the School of Physical Educations academic reputation in a highly competitive market. An appointment as the Ware Distinguished Professor is one of the highest honors the University can bestow upon a faculty member.”
Ware received his B.S. in physical education in 1950 and his M.A. in speech/communications in 1952. His career has been spent in international trading, finance, manufacturing and operational management. He is the former chairman of the board of Amherst International Inc. (Amherst FiberOptics), which he founded in 1977. The company manufactures and markets fiber optics, opto-electronics and allied laser products for telecommunications and cable companies. He has served as vice president of Manufacturers Hanover Bank, vice president and director of Manufacturers Hanover World Trade Corp., president of the International/Export Division of Burlington Industries Inc., and founder and CEO of Mitsubishi-Burlington Ltd. (Tokyo). Ware and his family resided in Tokyo from 1969-1974. He serves on the WVU Alumni Associations Board of Directors and has been inducted into the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and the WVU School of Physical Education Hall of Fame.
Also a WVU School of Physical Education graduate, Dolores Ware received her B.S. in 1952. She began her teaching career in the schools dance program and also assisted with the dance troupe Orchesis. She taught public school in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Connecticut. In 1980 she became managing director of the Color Association of the United States in New York City. Founded in 1917, this international fashion industry association is the most prestigious color-forecasting group in the nation. Dolores Ware has been both a leader and benefactor in the development of WVU s Stansbury Hall Fitness/Wellness Center. She also serves on the Blaney House Visiting Committee.
The Wares also have served on the WVU School of Physical Education Visiting Committee. He has served as chair for the past two years. The couple has two sons and nine grandchildren.
The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West VirginiaUniversity. The Building Greatness Campaign is being conducted by the Foundation on behalf of the University.