John Rinehart Blue (October 13, 1905 – May 27, 1965) was an American military officer, educator, businessperson, and politician in the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Blue was a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Hampshire County, from 1953 until 1959.

Blue continued to operate his Benjamin Franklin store and remained actively involved in Romney community organizations until his death in 1965.

[13][14] During World War II, Blue enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army at the age of 37 on November 20, 1942, in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

[21] Between 1955 and 1956, Blue relocated the Ben Franklin store to a three-story building on Main Street, which had previously housed Romney's theater.

[21][22][23] Following the resignation of William L. Thompson from the West Virginia House of Delegates on August 28, 1953, West Virginia governor, William C. Marland, appointed Blue to fill Thompson's vacant delegate seat representing Hampshire County on September 23, 1953, until the end of the term on November 30, 1954.

[34] He won his primary election in May 1956,[35] and was reelected to his seat in November 1956 after beating his Republican challenger Ben F. Slane of Slanesville, with 2,804 votes to 1,738.

[39][40][41] Blue attempted to recapture his delegate seat in 1962 but was defeated in the Democratic Party primary election by incumbent Slonaker, 579 to 1430 votes.

[47] The committee was established to provide West Virginians with "an understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the importance" of the state's natural resources.

[2][23][49] Blue's wife Madeline was a teacher for the primary grades at the WVSDB School for the Deaf for 35 years, served as president of the West Virginia Parent Teachers Association, and served as a member of the Hampshire County Board of Education for 28 years.