John S. Surber, Jr.
Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy (Retired)

A native of Peru, Indiana, John S. "Stan" Surber, Jr. was born November 16, 1929. He graduated from high school in 1947 and attended Indiana University from 1947 to 1948. He married the former Betty Jean Ludwig, and they had five sons, Jeffrey, David, John, Adam and Stephen.

LCDR Surber enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1948, attending recruit training at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes. In the same year, he attended the Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1949. His first duty assignment was as a trombone instrumentalist with the band at NAVBASE, Yokosuka, Japan, then back to the Great Lakes Band, Naval Training Center. He moved on to Unit Band 144 in Long Beach, California, then to the School of Music, for Temporary Duty. Mr. Surber then joined the United States Naval Academy Band in 1955, where he was promoted to Chief Musician in 1957. While serving at the Academy, Mr. Surber was promoted to Ensign in June, 1960.

Ensign Surber reported to Newport, Rhode Island for LDO school, then on to NAVSTA Washington, DC., for on the job training. In 1961 he became Staff Bandmaster, Chief of Naval Air Technical Training Band in Memphis, Tennessee, and was promoted to Lieutenant, Junior Grade. He assumed leadership of the Sea Chanters, U.S. Navy Band, Washington, D.C., in 1963, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1964, and became Assistant Leader of the U.S. Navy Band in 1966. Mr. Surber moved on to the Navy School of Music, now located in Little Creek, VA, and served as Training Officer, then as Executive Officer.

In May, 1968, Lieutenant Commander Surber became the Assistant Leader of the United States Naval Academy Band, and the following year became the 13th Leader of the Band. He was assigned as Commanding Officer, School of Music, in Little Creek, Virginia on January 29, 1971, and retired from the U.S. Navy in 1972.

HISTORY