By Michael Butler

Tallassee High School’s oldest living graduate has passed away. Jesse Charles “Jake” Bush was 103.

Bush was a 1941 THS graduate and 2022 inductee into the Tallassee High School Alumni Assocation Hall of Pride.

In 2021, Tallassee historian Bill Goss began researching the oldest-living THS alumni. He caught up with Bush, who was residing in Niceville, Fla.

“Jake plays golf every other day,” Goss wrote of Bush, who was then 98. “He’s a great patriot and amazing man.”

Bush served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years retiring as a colonel. He served in World War II, the Koren and Vietnam Wars. He participated in the Berlin Air Lift (1948-49), flew with the Europe Air Transport Squadron and served in the Air Force Special Mission transporting high-ranking military officials.

As a logistics officer for the U-2 Wing, he served during the Cuban missile crisis. 

He was also a professor of air science in the ROTC program at Auburn University, his other alma mater.

Bush’s commendations include Legion of Merit, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, USAF Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Medal for Humane Action (Berlin Airlift), and the USAF Outstanding Commander, 7th Aerial Port Squadron.  In 2019, Auburn University honored Bush at a football game in Jordan-Hare Stadium.