Member Biography
Noah W. Wenger
COUNTIES: Lancaster, Chester
Biography
10/20/1934 - 02/28/2024
Noah W. Wenger (R36) Chester (Part) and Lancaster (Part) Counties 1983-1992 (R36) Lancaster (Part) County 1993-2006
Early Life:
Noah W. Wenger, born October 20, 1934, New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; son of Elam Z. and Hettie Weaver Wenger; Lancaster County Public School education; farmer; member, Governor’s Advisory Committee on Solid Waste Management; chair, Pennsylvania Agricultural and Stabilization Committee; member, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; member, Cocalico School Authority, 1971-1985; director, Ephrata National Bank; director, Ephrata Community Hospital; member, Pennsylvania Agriculture Republican Committee; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1977-1982; appointed, Select Committee on Three Mile Island, 1979; not a candidate for reelection, 1982; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1983-2006, elected, Senate Majority Caucus Chair, 1987-1992, elected, Minority Caucus Secretary, 1993-1994, Majority Caucus Chair, 1995-2006; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1985-1988; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 1985-2006; appointed, Legislative Audit Advisory Commission, 1989-2006 appointed, Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2000-2002; not a candidate for reelection, left office November 30, 2006; appointed, State Harness Racing Commission, 2012-2015; married, Barbara Ann Bundrick, daughters, Nancy White, Brenda Tondi, Pam Shields; died, February 28, 2024, Stevens, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Private interment will follow the funeral service.
Early Career:
Farmer; director, Ephrata National Bank; Chesapeake Bay Commission; charter member, Pennsylvania Agricultural Republican Committee; member, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Ephrata Young Farmers, Reinholds Lions Club, Stevens and Showneck Fire Company, Pennsylvania Poultry Federation, North Lancaster County Sportsmen’s Association; Evangelical Assembly of God.
Awards:
County Commission Association President’s Award, Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations President’s Award, Lancaster County Conservancy Conservation Partnership Award, American Farmland Trust Agricultural Conservation Award, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Legislator of the Year, Pennsylvania Fireman’s Legislative Federation James M. Baird Jr. Memorial Award.
Pennsylvania Politics:
Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1977-1982; appointed, Select Committee on Three Mile Island, 1979; not a candidate for reelection, 1982.
Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 36th district, Chester (Part) and Lancaster (Part) Counties, 1983-1992, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 36th district, Lancaster (Part) County, 1993-2006, elected, Senate Majority Caucus Chair, 1987-1992, elected, Minority Caucus Secretary, 1993-1994, Majority Caucus Chair, 1995-2006; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1985-1988; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 1985-2006; appointed, Legislative Audit Advisory Commission, 1989-2006 appointed, Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2000-2002; committee assignments, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Vice Chairman), Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Labor and Industry, Rules and Executive Nominations; left office November 30, 2006.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:
Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)
Legacy:
First person elected to represent the then-newly formed Senate District 36, which represented portions of Lancaster and Chester counties, 1983.
Was reported that 40% of the 170 bills Wenger had introduced during his career in Harrisburg had become law, compared to the 1-in-10 chance on average that bills had of making it through the chamber then.
Cited:
Cox, Harold. "Senate Members W". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
The Pennsylvania Manual, (2005-2006). Schehr, E., (Editor). (Volume 117). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-8, 3-35, 3-40. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-25.