Johnnie Lee Ware

John L. Ware peacefully passed away at his home on Sunday, May 2, 2010 with his loving wife of 35 years by his side. John was born on March 16, 1948 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to the parents of Joshua and Allie Ware. He was married to Shirley Porter in 1974 and to this union two sons were born. John was an active member of Friendship West Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. He also actively served in the United States Army. During his tour of duty in Vietnam he earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. John L. Ware is the Co-founder, President and CEO of 21st Century Group, LLC a private equity investment firm which makes equity and equity-related investments in companies with a focus on acquisition of and investments in manufacturing, value-added distribution, service and media that offer the potential for attaining significant capital appreciation within a five year time period. Mr. Ware co-founded the firm with the Partners of HM Capital Partners (formerly Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst) in 1998. He serves on the Boards of Banks Broadcasting, Inc., Integrity Packing, Inc. and is Chairman of the Board of The Nichols Companies, Paris Packaging, Inc. and Urban Radio Broadcasting, Inc., all of which are companies in the fund. At 21st Century Group, Mr. Ware has served more than 10 years as either the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer of two $1 billion municipalities. John has over 24 years experience in municipal management including special expertise in the establishment, coordination and financing of multi-million dollar investments in central-city districts and he has managed or coordinated more than $3 billion in municipal financing transactions. Under Mr. Ware’s leadership, Dallas was cited by Financial World as one of the best-managed cities in the U.S. John was city manager of Dallas from November 1993 until August 1998, the second largest municipality in the country run under the council-manager form of government. Appointed Dallas’ first assistant city manager in April 1990, Ware also served as acting city manager for the city of Austin, Texas and has been assistant city manager for the cities of Austin, Texas and Newport News, Virginia. He served as assistant to the city manager of New Rochelle, New York and was an analyst in the budget/personnel office for the City of Syracuse, New York. During his tenure as City Manager of Dallas from 1993-1998, he initiated several ventures which created over $7 billion in public/private business partnerships with several of the nation’s leading financial institutions (Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank One, etc.) including two financial commitments totaling $4 billion with Fannie Mae, and a $1.5 billion commitment with Freddie Mac. Ware earned his B.A. degree from Ouachita Baptist University where he graduated Cum Laude and was a member of the Inaugural Honors Program. He received his M.P.A. degree in 1974 from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University where in addition to earning an academic scholarship he was named Andrew Mellon Fellow. He holds certificates from the University Of Chicago Graduate School Of Business; Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University; Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University; Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; Columbia University Business School; Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business and LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin. Ware’s Board appointments include: Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce - Dallas Citizens Council - Ouachita Baptist University Foundation - The Dallas Foundation Board - Greater Dallas Community Colleges Foundation - Baylor Health Care System Foundation Board - Children’s Medical Center Board of Directors. Ware’s memberships include: National Association of Securities Professionals -National Association of Investment Companies - Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce - Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Dallas Assembly - Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce - Leadership Dallas Alumni - National Academy of Public Administration - Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Incorporated - Master Mason. Ware’s honors from Syracuse University include being named the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by the Dallas/Ft. Worth Alumni Club and receiving the Chancellor’s Citation for Distinguished Achievement. Other honors include receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ouachita Baptist University and the National Public Service Award from the American Society for Public Administration, and being elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Ware received the Inaugural Public/Private Investment Award from International City Management Association. John L. Ware is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley Ware, sons Jawn and Brandon, grandson, Porter, four sisters, Cathie Murphy, Rose Gale Jones, Gloria Hart, Angela Helms (Charles), five brothers, Joshua Ware, Ollie Charles Ware, Melvin Ware, Ronald Ware, Sabian Ware and a Godson, Clayton Shaw. He will be remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, friends and co-workers. Mr. Ware will lie in state at Williams Funeral Home on Friday, May 7, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. the family will greet and receive friends from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 12:00 noon in the sanctuary of Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., is the pastor. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III., the pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church will deliver the celebration message.The body will lie in state one hour prior to service time at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. The committal service and final resting place will be in Helms Cemetery. The bearers of the casket will be Ollie Ware, Jr., Brandon Ware, Sr., Brandon Ware, Jr., Damon Hart, Shelby McClure, Jacque Ware, Derrick Beard and Brian Ware.