George S. Howard

Colonel George Sallade Howard (February 24, 1902 – September 18, 1995)[1] was commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band between 1947 and 1963.

[1] In 1925 he became the band director of Ohio Wesleyan University (where he became a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity), and he earned Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from that institution in 1929.

[1] During his tenure he established several performing groups,including Airmen of Note, Singing Sergeants, Strolling Strings, and Women in the Air Force Band.

The John Philip Sousa Foundation awards the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands in Col. Howard's memory and the Air Force Band's annual young artists competition is named in his memory.

On January 29, 2005, the service road at the Reading-Lancaster Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was officially named in his honor.