Malcom "Mel" Rush

Malcolm Warren "Mel" Rush


Born:
April 2, 1909
Graysville, PA

Died:
January 1, 1989
Akron, OH   

Career
1926-27 Salem High School - Salem, OH (High School)
1928-29 Bethany College - WV- (College)
1929-30 Bethany College - WV- (College)
1930-31 Bethany College - WV- (College)
1931-32 Bethany College - WV- (College)
1931-32 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (AAU)
1932-33 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (NPBL)
1933-34 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (AAU)
1934-35 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (AAU)
1935-36 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (AAU)
1936-37 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (MBC)
1937-38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (NBL)
1941-42 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (Independents)



Rush was born in Graysville, Pennsylvania, to William and Elizabeth Rush, but the family moved to Ohio when William was transferred there by his employer, Columbia Gas. Another graduate of Salem High School (1927), Rush never played basketball until his senior year of high school, when he lead the state in scoring and was named to the All-Ohio team. He then went to Bethany College, where he lettered in five sports (football, basketball, baseball, track and tennis.) He joined the Wingfoots after college and was an integral part of the team for years before the NBL's organization. He was also a skilled third basemen for Akron Goodyears baseball team in the Industrial League. After his playing days, he stayed on at Goodyear for over forty years, where he became the aircraft division manager. He was also a member of Bethany College's School Board of Trustees. He married Florence Peterson (1911-2004) in 1935 and the couple had two sons, Herbert and Malcolm, Jr, and a daughter, Harriet.
Rush died on New Years Day, 1989, within hours of his older brother William, Jr. William has been in a car accident a few weeks prior and finally succumbed to his injuries. A noteworthy Hollywood agent who managed Jackie Gleason, Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, William had been close with Rogers, with Rogers' book "Happy Trails" dedicated to him.

William and Malcolm's obituary:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PAGREENE/2000-02/0950995071
Wife's obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?n=Florence-Peterson-Rush&pid=2437088
Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/r/rushma01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=rushma01