G. Kenner Bush Jr., an iconic and beloved member of the Athens and Ohio University community, passed away at the age of 86 on Feb 28, 2021.
Born June 30, 1934, G. Kenner Bush’s life is a tapestry weaved in Athens. A 1952 graduate of Athens High School, and later Colgate University and Harvard Business school, G. Kenner Bush and his wife Margene, also of Athens, were the third couple married in Galbreath Chapel. After working out of state, they returned to Southeast Ohio in 1962 when G. Kenner Bush was hired as the assistant publisher of the daily newspaper, the Athens Messenger. He was the publisher of the Athens Messenger from 1965 to 1997.
G. Kenner Bush had a vision for the community. From his advocacy for better highways and a healthier local economy, to his endowment of the Bush Opportunity Scholarships at Athens High School and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, to his representation of the interests of Athens and Southeast Ohio in the Messenger, Bush’s passion for Athens and knowledge of Southeast Ohio were unsurpassed.
He was awarded the Ohio Governor’s Award in 1994 for his leadership in journalism and regional economic development, and awarded the Ohio University Board of Trustees’ Founders Citation in 2004, in addition to being made an honorary alumnus in 1984. He was also a former trustee of both Ohio University and the Ohio University Foundation, and a member of two Ohio University presidential search committees.
“G. Kenner Bush was a kind, influential and inspirational person who helped shape this region and this University,” OHIO President M. Duane Nellis said. “His integrity and passion will always be with us and will continue to change the students and communities we serve for the better.”
G. Kenner Bush and his wife always had the futures of Ohio University and Athens students in their minds.
They have long been benefactors to the prestigious Cutler Scholars Program, which endows scholarships for meritorious students that use their skills and learning to leave a positive impact on their communities. He and his wife endowed the Cutler Scholars Program early in its development, and his 18 years as a member of the Cutler Scholars Board of Governors (later Advisors) was emblematic of his commitment, not just to the exceptional program that he believed in, but also his belief in personal service backed by financial investment.
G. Kenner Bush believed in a personal touch, and gave a parental style and guidance to the Bush-Cutler Scholarship. With his warm, generous and thoughtful input, he and his wife would provide inspiration and advice to the beneficiaries of the scholarship.
“Over the years, my relationship with Kenner and Margene has flourished,” said Jessica Hittle, a Bush-Cutler Scholar and professor of legal analysis, research and writing at Capital University Law School. “I have benefitted from their wise counsel throughout law school, career moves and life decisions, all usually over a meal at their favorite table in Zoe’s restaurant.”
Described by everyone as smart, quiet, respectful and friendly, G. Kenner Bush was an icon among Ohio University staff, often seen conversing with friends or offering advice when and where he could. It was his soft but assured presence that landed him in a mentor role to many – not just Bush-Cutler Scholarship students, but even to former executive director and CEO of the Ohio University Foundation Jack Ellis, who held Kenner Bush in the highest regard.
“The legacy G. Kenner Bush leaves behind is woven throughout all of Athens: his work on the Route 33 expansion, the integrity he instilled in the Messenger and the lives he touched,” said Nico Karagosian, CEO of the Ohio University Foundation. “His lasting contribution to OHIO and the Bush-Cutler Scholarship will continue to give students a bright future, forever.”
Due to COVID restrictions, there will not be a public celebration of his life at this time. A complete obituary was published in the Athens Messenger.