Civic Chorus (Mount Pleasant, Mich.)

The choir was organized in Oct. 1933 by Prof. Fred Bush (July 15, 1899-May 3, 1964), of the Central Michigan University (CMU) Dramatics Dept., and Rev. Charles W. MacKenzie (May 28, 1886-June 24, 1965), minister of the First Methodist Church of Mount Pleasant (Mich.). Both men were extremely active in the community and served on numerous committees and organizational boards. Chorus members were from Mount Pleasant and local towns and rural areas. Prof. Bush directed the choir, while his wife, Marie Donner Bush, accompanied them on the piano. Cleon C. Richtmeyer, head of the CMU Mathematics Dept., was the first president of the choir. On Oct. 6, 1934, the 130 member choir sang at the World's Fair in Chicago.