Mr. Josh Bush (’05) graduated from ETBU with a degree in Speech Communication. He is happily married to his wife, Mariella, whom he met while serving on a medical mission campaign in Lima, Peru. They are the proud parents of two children and love traveling, good food, theater, and live sports. Josh currently serves as the lead trial counsel and managing attorney for GEICO Insurance in Oklahoma and Kansas. He serves with numerous community organizations and is also an active member of his church, where he serves as Deacon of Worship and teaches Sunday school.
Read below to hear more about Josh’s journey, experiences, and favorite memories of ETBU.
Initially, I planned to major in broadcast communication and work in television. I was offered a speech communication scholarship at ETBU, along with a Harrison County resident scholarship. This allowed me to stay close to home, work at the radio station, and learn in a strong faith-based community. ETBU's mission statement struck a particular chord with me: A world of opportunity in a community of faith.
After graduating from ETBU, I spent three years as the news director and morning host for KMHT radio in Marshall, where I also worked during my time at ETBU. In 2008, I moved to Oklahoma City to attend law school, where I graduated and passed the bar in 2011.
A fun fact and memory I will always have from my time in Marshall was while working at KMHT I had the chance to meet and interview Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker.
The late Dr. Frank Lower and Dr. Carolyn Rester, who both worked in the communication department, had a lasting impact on me and my career. They taught me the value of hard work, patience, and second chances. Additionally, I owe much to my theatre teachers at the time: Shane Fuller and Brent Maddox. From them, I learned how to appreciate art and to develop specific performance techniques I still use in the courtroom today.
I enjoy keeping up with my former theater castmates and dormmates via Facebook. Sadly, I don't get to see many in person anymore due to living in OKC.
I particularly enjoyed my time as an RA at the University Apartments, which were brand new at the time. I loved my fellow RAs, RDs, and hallmates. I have many crazy stories, most of which probably shouldn't be shared publicly, lol. However, one I don't mind sharing is a time I caught some baseball players hurling cupcakes through the lobby. I came in to find cupcakes perfectly planted into the walls like party decorations. One culprit, who will remain unnamed, harnessed those skills to pitch a win for the Tigers the next Saturday.
There is no question that the skills I learned and developed at ETBU paved the way for my role as a trial attorney. ETBU instilled within me a strong ethic, showed me how to identify and balance priorities, and taught me life lessons that apply not only to a career field but also to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). I hope to always carry that "light that never dies" with me everywhere I go.