ROCKPORT – John Ware, who built the family’s oil business and service station into a multifaceted energy, service and convenience store corporation employing nearly 200 people, was named the Rockland-Thomaston Chamber of Commerce “Person of the Year” Saturday night.

The award was made at the Chamber’s annual dinner at the Samoset Resort.

Ware, president of Maritime Energy, graduated from Rockland High School in 1952 and then from Bowdoin College, served in the U.S. Army and worked for DuPont in New Jersey.

He returned to Rockland in the late 1950s to work in the family business, and began by delivering home heating oil. Ware drove tanker transports and also served as the company’s repair technician after it entered the furnace burner service business.

Ware became operations manager in the 1970s, and when his father died, took over as president of the company.

Gordon Page Sr., making the announcement of the award, said Ware’s “work ethic and volunteer service epitomize the qualities that many of us aspire to.”

Ware oversaw efforts to raise $250,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and his company was an early supporter of the new Maine Lighthouse Museum, Page said.

In addition to being an active director of Rockland Savings & Loan, he is a Paul Harris Fellow with 22 years perfect attendance in the Rockland Rotary Club.

Ware is a Model T enthusiast and a Maine history buff, and is an active member of the Rockland Historical Society.

Other award winners were:

. Economic Enhancement: Maine Eastern Railroad.

. Community Service: Youthlinks.

. Nonprofit Building: Salvation Army.

. Community Spirit: Liberty Hospitality of Maine.

. Commercial Building Renovation: Breakwater Marketplace LLC.

. Commercial Interior Improvement Rockland: Harbor Beauty Bar.

. Commercial Interior Improvement Thomaston: Floral, FolkArt & Friends.

. Municipal/Public Improvement: Town of Thomaston Streetscape Project.

. Historical Renovation: The Strand Theatre.