Former county, city leader dies

Robert Bush served as Youngstown police chief, Mahoning JFS director

YOUNGSTOWN -- Robert E. Bush Jr., who enjoyed a lengthy career in high-level positions with Mahoning County and Youngstown, died at the age of 79.

"He was an amazing man," said Paul J. Gains, a former longtime county prosecutor, for whom Bush worked. "He was a good friend, a good lawyer and he lived a hell of a life. The world's certainly a lesser place without him. You look at all he accomplished. He's a tremendous man. I'll miss him."

Bush, who died Thursday, had a career of nearly 50 years in public service, including as Youngstown's first black police chief, city law director, Mahoning County Job and Family Services director and chief of the county prosecutor's criminal section.

Bush started his career in the public sector in 1971, serving on the Youngstown police force until 1977.

Before that, he spent four years in the Marine Corps, including more than a year in Vietnam during the war, serving as a gunner and crew chief on helicopters flying into combat zones. He was wounded twice, earning two Purple Hearts, and was inducted in 2014 into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.

After his time with the Youngstown Police Department, Bush spent six years as an inspector with the U.S. Postal Service, investigating mail fraud cases. Bush then worked six years as safety coordinator for the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority while earning his law degree in 1990 from the University of Akron Law School.

Bush also served on the Youngstown school board and as president of the YMHA board.

Bush had a private law practice, served two years as executive director of the then-Youngstown Citizens Police Review Board and two years as an assistant county prosecutor, hired by Gains.

Bush left the county in 1998 to become Youngstown law director under then-Mayor George M. McKelvey.

When Richard Lewis decided to retire as Youngstown police chief, McKelvey appointed Bush to succeed him in April 2002.

McKelvey said: "He was a great law director and a terrific police chief. It all stemmed from him being a great guy. He was thoughtful and empathetic. I was so satisfied with him as law director. When Chief Lewis retired, we were sitting in the law department and I asked him if he wanted to be police chief. He said, 'I'd love it,' and I hired him without interviewing anyone else. I didn't need to interview people because I knew he'd do a great job for me and he did. I could not speak more highly of him. He was a great police chief, but a better person."

The Youngstown Police Department issued a statement regarding Bush, saying: "Throughout his tenure, he was known for his steady leadership and his commitment to the officers and residents of Youngstown."

It added: "Chief Bush's legacy will be remembered by all who worked alongside him and by the community he served."

After McKelvey's term as mayor ended, Bush returned to the county prosecutor's office for five years, selected by Gains as chief of the criminal division.

Bush left in January 2011 to serve as director of the county JFS. He retired in October 2020.

Gains said: "You look at what he did for Job and Family Services. It was a scourge for years, and he went in there and made it run smoother than ever before. He was just a great guy."

Former Mahoning County, Youngstown official dies

By DAVID SKOLNICK

Staff writer

YOUNGSTOWN -- Robert E. Bush Jr., who enjoyed a lengthy career in high-level positions with Mahoning County and Youngstown, died at the age of 79.

"He was an amazing man," said Paul J. Gains, a former longtime county prosecutor, for whom Bush worked. "He was a good friend, a good lawyer and he lived a hell of a life. The world's certainly a lesser place without him. You look at all he accomplished. He's a tremendous man. I'll miss him."

Bush, who died Thursday, had a career of nearly 50 years in public service, including as Youngstown's first black police chief, city law director, Mahoning County Job and Family Services director and chief of the county prosecutor's criminal section.

Bush started his career in the public sector in 1971, serving on the Youngstown police force until 1977.

Before that, he spent four years in the Marine Corps, including more than a year in Vietnam during the war, serving as a gunner and crew chief on helicopters flying into combat zones. He was wounded twice, earning two Purple Hearts, and was inducted in 2014 into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.

After his time with the Youngstown Police Department, Bush spent six years as an inspector with the U.S. Postal Service, investigating mail fraud cases. Bush then worked six years as safety coordinator for the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority while earning his law degree in 1990 from the University of Akron Law School.

Bush also served on the Youngstown school board and as president of the YMHA board.

Bush had a private law practice, served two years as executive director of the then-Youngstown Citizens Police Review Board and two years as an assistant county prosecutor, hired by Gains.

Bush left the county in 1998 to become Youngstown law director under then-Mayor George M. McKelvey.

When Richard Lewis decided to retire as Youngstown police chief, McKelvey appointed Bush to succeed him in April 2002.

McKelvey said: "He was a great law director and a terrific police chief. It all stemmed from him being a great guy. He was thoughtful and empathetic. I was so satisfied with him as law director. When Chief Lewis retired, we were sitting in the law department and I asked him if he wanted to be police chief. He said, 'I'd love it,' and I hired him without interviewing anyone else. I didn't need to interview people because I knew he'd do a great job for me and he did. I could not speak more highly of him. He was a great police chief, but a better person."

The Youngstown Police Department issued a statement regarding Bush, saying: "Throughout his tenure, he was known for his steady leadership and his commitment to the officers and residents of Youngstown."

It added: "Chief Bush's legacy will be remembered by all who worked alongside him and by the community he served."

After McKelvey's term as mayor ended, Bush returned to the county prosecutor's office for five years, selected by Gains as chief of the criminal division.

Bush left in January 2011 to serve as director of the county JFS. He retired in October 2020.

Gains said: "You look at what he did for Job and Family Services. It was a scourge for years, and he went in there and made it run smoother than ever before. He was just a great guy."

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