Gordon Bush

Dr. Gordon D. Bush

Photos Courtesy of ESL Mayor Emeritus Gordon D. Bush and Erica M. Brooks

Family & Military Service U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Gordon Bush grew up in East St. Louis, the child of Lillian and Reverend Claude Bush. He married Brenda Bush, also an East St. Louis native, in 1971.

They are parents to Tammy Bush-Nimmer and Gordon D. Bush, II. In 1966, he was drafted as a Private into the U.S. Army.

After 30 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Upon retirement, he received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal. During a ceremony at the White House, President Bill Clinton presented Bush with a “Certificate of Appreciation� honoring his distinguished military career.

Lillian and Reverend Claude Bush

Bush as a young boy

Bush Family l to r: Gordon D. II, Brenda, Gordon, and Tammy

President Clinton, Brenda and Dr. Bush honored for military career

Gordon Bush receives leadership award from Colonel Ingwersen

Mayoral Diplomat for the Great City of East St. Louis 1991-1999 After serving active duty in the U.S. Army, Bush remained in the army reserve and began working for the city of East St. Louis under a federal grant. He then was elected as commissioner of public property, making his formal entrance into politics.

Bush has served more than 45 years as a public servant, with 32 of those years as an elected official. That service includes St. Clair County Assessor, two-term mayor of East St. Louis, East St. Louis Building Commissioner, East St. Louis City Treasurer, and St. Clair County Board of Review.

During his tenure as mayor, Bush was elected president of the National Conference of Black Mayors.

Mayor Bush honors Jackie Joyner Kersee

East St. Louis Mayor Bush and staff

Mayor Bush honors Ozzie Smith upon his retirement

Pres. Clinton attends East St. Louis Walgreens opening

U.S. HUD Secretary Cisneros and Mayor Bush

Chief Federal Judge Steele and Bishop W. Gregory with Mayor Bush

Mayor Bush takes guns off of the East St. Louis streets

Pres. Clinton visits East St. Louis

Vice Pres. Gore and U.S. Senator Moseley-Braun visit East St. Louis

Mayoral Diplomat for the Great City of East St. Louis 1991-1999 When Bush decided to run for mayor of East St. Louis, he gained endorsement of both the Republicans and the Democrats through his promise to help the financially dire, crime-ridden city. One of his first acts as mayor was to request financial oversight and a loan from the governor of Illinois.

Bush worked with the state to obtain a riverboat casino license, enabling the Casino Queen to bring in $10 million to the city’s coffers in the first year alone. With additional funds came additional police officers and new equipment, and, as a result, reduced crime rates.

By 1992, the city was operating with a balanced budget after having once been as much as $85 million in the red.

The Clintons and Bush at the White House

HUD Secretary Cisneros presents award to Mayor Bush

Former Pres. Obama and Mayor Bush U.S. Sen. Durbin, Mayor Bush, Pres. Clinton

Gen. Pennycuick, Bush and St. Louis County Exec. Milford

Mayor Bush and political supporters

Bush Street Sign

Economic Impact East St. Louis Mayor Emeritus Gordon D. Bush’s dedication to the economic health of the region was evident throughout his career. In 1993, he obtained the license for the Casino Queen, saving the city from bankruptcy.

For 10 years, he served on the St. Clair County Public Building Commission, working with Chairman Mark Kern, which led to the construction of the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in 1993.

Bush welcomed the MetroLink station to East St. Louis. The metro station at 5th & Missouri Avenue opened in 1995. In 1999, he collaborated with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, The Casino Queen, and the East St. Louis Library President Harold Lawary to raise funds for construction of the East St. Louis Public Library.

Mayor Bush conducts Casino Queen ribbon cutting, 1993

Mayor Bush brings the Casino Queen to East St. Louis in 1993

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

Gordon D. Bush Elementary School

5th & Missouri Ave. Metro Link Ribbon Cutting

The Gordon D. Bush Elementary School opened in 2006 with Bush and his wife, Brenda, cutting the ribbon with state, county and local officials, along with East St. Louis District #189 board members.

East St. Louis Public Library

Mayor and Mrs. Bush join friends at the ribbon cutting at Bush Elementary

Rendering by Ittner

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Leadership & Support East St. Louis Mayor Emeritus Gordon D. Bush earned a Bachelor of Arts from SIUE in 1970 and a Master of Science in 1971.

He is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and received the SIUE Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1996. He is also a member of the 2009 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

He established the Gordon D. Bush Political Science Scholarship Endowment to celebrate his lifelong interest in the political process, and to recognize outstanding achievement by an SIUE student majoring in political science. The recipient of this scholarship is selected by a committee established by the Department of Political Science.

Pres. Lazerson, Gov. Edger, Mayor Bush and Dr. Cason

Chancellor Pembrook and Mayor Bush

Mayor Bush and SIUE Scholarship winners

U.S. Senator Paul Simon, Mayor Bush, Chancellor Belck and President Sanders

Dr. Bush, President Poshard, Brenda Bush and Chancellor Vandegrift

Chancellor Vandegrift presents Hall of Fame Award to Dr. Bush

Gen. Colin Powell is saluted by Lt. Col. Bush

Dr. and Mrs. Bush pose with scholarship winner

Hall of Famers: Bush, Wharton, Redmond with Chancellor Furst-Bowe

Humanitarian & Charitable Activities Bush and his wife Brenda award four $1,000 scholarships to college-bound, graduating seniors of East St. Louis Senior High School through the East Saint Louis Youth Commission, an organization they founded.

They additionally endowed a scholarship for political science students at SIUE. Bush is active on numerous boards and organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Shriners International and the United States Army Reserves Officer Association. Recently, he received one of its most prestigious honors as a member of its elite “Centennial Founders Club.” He is the 1996 recipient of the “Humanitarian Award,” the NAACP’s highest award.

American Legion: Bush brothers, Barlow Bush; Gordon Bush and Pearson Bush Seven-mile run to the Arch from East St. Louis

East St. Louis Lion’s Club East St. Louis Shriners – Dr. Bush, Honorary Past Imperial Potentate

He is a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He holds the highest degree in Masonry, the “33rd Degree,” and is an Honorary Past Imperial Potentate of Shriners International.

Additionally, he is a 61-year member of Greater New Hope Baptist Church.

Dr. and Mrs. Bush at Scholarship Awards

Katherine Dunham Stamp, 2006