John Roger Scarborough

Buddington Lycurgus Scarborough was born in Austin, Texas at the original St. David’s Hospital on West 17th Street on 1 June 1931, which happened to be his mother’s birthday. His parents were O.L. and Ercy Scarborough of Austin.

He was enrolled at Palm Elementary School through the fourth grade. On 27 May 1942, he legally changed his name to John Roger Lycurgus Scarborough, and then transferred to Pease Elementary School. He attended John T. Allan Junior High School and graduated from Austin High School in 1950. During this time, he was a member of Boy Scout Troop 20 at University Presbyterian church, attaining the rank of Life Scout. In 1954 and 1955 he received his bachelor’s of fine arts degree in studio art and art education from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a member of the varsity fencing team, serving as captain and coach.

While attending the university, he joined the 36th Quartermaster Company, 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. In March 1955 he reported to the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where in July of 1955, he was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. Later that fall he reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida, and began training to become a Naval Aviator.

On 23 June 1956, he married the former Joanne Copeland of Winnsboro, Texas, in her home town, and they returned to Pensacola to continue his flight training. He completed his flight training in Kingsville, Texas and was designated a Naval Aviator in December of 1956.

Reporting aboard his first squadron at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island in January 1957, he was involved in carrier-based anti-submarine warfare squadrons and aircraft carriers for the next eleven years. During that time, he was a member of the Brazilian Mobile Training Team, helping train a Brazilian Air Force squadron to fly the S-2F for anti-submarine warfare. In 1966 he reported to Training Squadron Twenty Two in Kingsville, Texas, where he transitioned to jet aircraft and was a flight instructor. In 1968 through 1970 he flew the EKA-3B Skywarrior from the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) and USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) in the Vietnam conflict. In 1970 he reported to the Naval War College in Newport Rhode, Island, for the Command and Staff course, where he also received a master’s degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University. Next he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans on the staff of Commander Middle East Force, homeported in Bahrain, Persian Gulf. He completed his Naval Service in 1975, having served as Commanding Officer of Tactical Air Control Squadron 21 in Little Creek, Virginia.

In 1975 Roger, his wife Joanne and their daughter Sheila moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he became the Naval Science Instructor for the NJROTC unit at Beaumont Charlton Pollard High school. In 1979 the unit won the Admiral Cassell trophy as the best unit in the Eighth Naval District, which included thirty-five units in eight states. In 1981 he left the Naval Science unit, enrolled at Lamar University and received another bachelor’s degree, in Graphic Design. In 1983, he was elected as a school trustee in the Beaumont Independent School District.

In 1984 Joanne and Roger moved to Granite Shoals, Texas. Since that time he has served on a variety of City of Granite Shoals volunteer committees over the years. He was designated a Highland Lakes Master Gardener Emeritus for his volunteer work in that organization.

He is survived by his wife Joanne Copeland Scarborough, his daughter CDR Sheila Anne Scarborough USN (Ret), his son-in-law CDR Christopher Fancher USNR (Ret) and his grandchildren Nancy Fancher and Thomas Fancher.

CDR Scarborough will be buried in the Ridgeway Cemetery at Paige, Texas, among his Scarborough and Erwin ancestors. The graveside ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Marble Falls Area EMS.