An Eagle Scout, football recruit, devoted professional wrestling fan, former Undergraduate Council presidential candidate and definite Quad personality, Michael S. "Mike" Bush '99 has taken root in Cambridge and thrived while maintaining a laid-back attitude.

Bush, a high school wrestler, shot-putter and football player, was one of about five seniors recruited to play college football out of his senior class of approximately 1,200 students at Lakeside High School, a public school outside of Augusta, Georgia.

The 6'1", 255 lb. Bush came to the attention of Harvard football recruiters after a chance meeting with a wrestling coach at Walpole High School. Bush met the coach while working out with the school's wrestling team during a visit to his cousins' Walpole, Mass., home. The Walpole coach passed Bush's name along to Harvard recruiters who requested that Bush send them a tape.

"The rest is history," Bush says.

Bush chose Harvard over other schools such as the Georgia Tech, The Naval Academy, Dartmouth and Brown because "it is Harvard" and because he likes Boston and has relatives in the area. He says his high school generally does not send students to Harvard.

Bush played football his first year at Harvard but had to have back surgery in February of 1996 to correct a problem that began in high school. Though no longer able to play football, Bush served as a team manager for the remainder of his college career.

Involvement in Cabot House activities also took up a good deal of Bush's time.

"[Cabot] is the best," Bush says. "I feel bad for everyone else because they didn't get to live here."

According to former Cabot House Committee Co-chair Joel L. Negin '99, "Mike is a very visible member of the House community. He is out on the Quad a lot, and I'd say that almost everyone knows him for better or for worse."

Bush was involved with the Cabot House Committee for three years and was the Weight Room Czar his junior and senior year. Negin says the position was created with the realization that Bush would be perfect for it.

"Cabot's weight room is spectacular right now in large part due to his help," Negin says.

But what Bush will perhaps be best remembered for by close friends and strangers alike is his relentless pursuit of a good time.

"I just like to have fun," Bush says. "I'm up for anything."

Bush says he has hosted too many parties to count during his time at the College, including two toga parties.

One party/canned-food drive put on by his entryway brought in approximately 500 cans of food which were later donated to a community service organization.