Muncie is feeling a little quieter this week. Local sports legend and retired school superintendent Michael “Mike” Alden Bush passed away on Saturday morning after a tough fight with liver cancer. He was 71 years old. To the folks around here, he was a guy who built a legacy out of simple kindness, hard work, and a deep love for his hometown.
Born right here in 1955 to Alden and Delores Bush, Mike grew up running the streets and playing hard on the sports fields. He graduated from Muncie Southside High School with the tight-knit Class of 1973. Back then, he was a standout athlete who earned an incredible ten varsity letters. Everyone knew he was going places, but nobody expected just how much he would give back to the schools that raised him.
After earning his degrees at Ball State University, Mike didn’t head for the big city. Instead, he went right down the road to Wes-Del Middle and High School to start teaching and coaching. In 1985, he coached the varsity baseball team to their very first championship in school history. He wasn’t just drawing up plays on a whiteboard; he was teaching kids how to be good humans.
Over the years, Mike moved from the dugout to the front office. He served as the athletic director at Muncie Central and later took over as the superintendent for Wes-Del schools from 2013 to 2018. He was even named the District 6 Superintendent of the Year. He was the driving force behind building the new Wes-Del Fieldhouse, a place where local kids will play for generations to come.
But if you talked to Mike, he wouldn’t brag about his awards or his induction into the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame. He would probably talk about his family or his favorite football team. Mike was a diehard Green Bay Packers fan, much to the playful dismay of his local friends. He also had a legendary sweet tooth, specifically for banana splits, and he never went anywhere without a wallet stuffed full of coupons.
Life wasn’t always easy for the Bush family. In 2018, Mike and his wife faced every parent’s worst nightmare when their daughter, Sarah Anne Bush, passed away. It was a devastating blow, but Mike faced that grief the same way he faced his later illness—with a quiet, steady strength that inspired everyone around him. He leaned heavily on his faith and his community at Center Chapel Global Methodist Church.
Now, the town is wrapping its arms around the family as arrangements are being made to say a final goodbye. Mike leaves behind an incredible emptiness, but also a wealth of beautiful memories. From the ball fields to the school hallways, his spirit remains woven deep into the fabric of Muncie. He showed everyone what it looks like to live a life full of purpose, generosity, and heart.
