Amanda Rush was to be in attendance at the Annual Hallowicked show in 2020 alongside her boyfriend of 16 years, marking 15 years since the first time she celebrated Halloween on-site with our happy hatchet fam. Instead, with heavy hearts, her boyfriend, and sister attended in her honor. This year’s festivities took place a little more than a week from when, sadly, our hearts were left broken when Amanda Rush was taken from us in a senseless act of violence. On October 23^rd, 2020, she had just arrived at her scheduled first shift when a man entered the Columbus, Ohio White Castle and opened fire, taking the life of one of our own. The shooter who was later identified as Mark Reynolds of Columbus, Ohio, was captured at a gas station where S.W.A.T. was on the scene after having received a 911 call from a customer in the White Castle drive-thru, reporting shots fired.

Rush, lovingly referred to by many and here to after, as Panda, was a dedicated employee of White Castle for 14 years. Hired as an entry-level staff member while still in high school, her hard work and loyalty advanced her career with the company to the level of a well-respected General Manager. She had been overseeing her assigned location for 2 years. Staff and regular customers were impacted by her dedication to creating an environment where people felt welcome and were treated with respect and dignity.

With a brand of work-place humanitarianism that didn’t stop with respect and dignity, Panda was also known to push young employees to grow as people. She encouraged them to put their education first and take the opportunity for education seriously. A previous employee is noted for sharing that, when Amanda hired her she was a shy high schooler who had a difficult time coming out of her shell. Amanda played an integral part in helping her remedy this immediately, by putting her to work in the drive-thru where she began to learn how to be comfortable in communicating with people.  The encouraging and can-do attitude Panda was known for can be attributed as a factor in the lives of the staff she touched, from other high schoolers to tenured White Castle Staff who watched her grow in the company from the age of 16. White Castle has established a scholarship fund that will be made available to Columbus Ohio staff, and students who are pursuing education in hospitality. You can read more about this and contribute to the fund here.

At 30 years of age, Pandas’ love of the Juggalo Family had been expressed through her dedication to attending events annually including 11 Annual Gathering of The Juggalos festivals since 2007, many Freight Fests, 4/20 shows, Juggalo Day events, and many shows for album releases. Her commitment extended to many other important events also, including the Juggalo March on Washington. Her favorite family albums were The Wraith of ShangRi La and Abominations. Her smiling face and joy could be seen infecting those around her any time she heard Twiztid’s cover of The Joker.

Panda and her boyfriend not only showed out to support the fam as often as possible but also showed their love and support of the fam and their favorite artists through the vast collection of merch that was accrued through many years of love and loyalty. She was known to often gift friends and family with Juggalo items from shows she attended with them and without them.  She has been featured in images included in the Gathering of the Juggalos Book, images used in articles written about the Juggalo March on Washington, and can be spotted in videos and images taken at various Juggalo events and shows throughout the years. Panda was a vital element to the fam and put the blood sweat, and Faygo-2-liter scars from a Tempest show to prove it.

Amanda was a cornerstone of her family, having always looked to take care of and support them in the way in which they loved and cared for her. A sturdy right hand in true ride-or-die fashion, companion, and friend to the love of her life. And an incredibly loyal and dedicated friend to those she held dear. She was a natural innovator in leadership in her career and set the standard for many in leading by example, creating a family of her staff, raising leaders, and being a leader who would work beside you in the trenches. Her sincerity, loyalty, dedication, and infectious perseverance was so impactful that the hearts of those who loved her will feel the sting of absence through the ages.

To the Great Pandizzle, Amanda – Live it up in Shang Ri La. You will be greatly missed by all.