Louis E. Pete
June 24, 1895 – April 23, 1971
ASO Conductor 1925-1927 and 1936-1943
Dr. Louis E. Pete, known affectionately as “Doc” and “Ashland’s Music Man,” was born in Tiffin, OH, the son of Louis E. and Mary Louise (Ferguson) Pete. His early childhood was spent in Loudonville, OH. He also lived in Hope, AR, and Donora, PA. In 1918, he came to Ashland, after serving as a cost accountant with a large steel mill in Donora. He married LuLu Shearer in 1919.
Dr. Pete became director of music for Ashland High School while continuing with his education to qualify himself as a music educator. Subsequently he became well known in a field far removed from accounting. Under his direction, the Ashland City School music department became a model throughout the United States. His musical organizations repeatedly won national awards. His popularity was statewide and he was held in high respect by music educators throughout the nation.
Dr. Pete graduated from Ashland College in 1927 and again in 1936 and was presented an honorary degree of Doctor of Music in 1939. He served as supervisor of music for Ashland City Schools for 37 years and associate professor of music education at Ashland College until his retirement in 1965. He served as director of the First Christian Church Choir and later the Trinity Lutheran Choir for a combined period of over 30 years. He served for many years on the board of Ashland Public Library.
Dr. Pete started the series of successful high school musicals at Ashland High School in 1956 with Brigadoon. The following year, he directed the first high school production of The King and I in the entire country. The annual presentation of top Broadway musicals* continues to this day and draws capacity crowds.
He created the first Ashland Symphony Orchestra in 1925, which performed for a couple of years. In 1936, he re-organized it with the help of the late Mrs. T. W. Miller, Sr. Under his direction, the symphony performed a number of nationwide radio broadcasts. The orchestra disbanded in 1943 following the United States entry into World War II. (The ASO was restarted in 1970 by Harold Weller.)
Dr. Pete was a guest conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, directed the All-Ohio Boys Band from 1932-1967, had terms playing the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits as a member of a male quartet, was commissioned by former Ohio Gov. James A. Rhodes to organize and direct the All-Ohio Youth Orchestra, and was director of the Ashland-Mansfield area union band. He held a lifetime membership in the Musicians Protective Association, Local 159 of Mansfield.
For many years he was in charge of the Ashland summer concert program at Brookside Park. As a result of Dr. Pete’s enthusiastic interest in carrying through his plans and with the generous financial assistance of John C. Myers Sr. and Mrs. Guy C. Myers, the bandshell was constructed in Brookside Park for the cost of $112,000.
His awards and honors were numerous including the Distinguished Service Award by the Department of Agriculture, a bronze plaque for inspired service by Ohio Gov. Frank Lausche, the Distinguished Service Award by the Ohio Music Association, and many more. Dr. Pete was the first public school teacher in Ohio’s history to receive the coveted Governor’s Award.
This biography was printed in the December 1, 2019, ASO concert program.