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still [[strikethrough]] in some surgical fitting [[/strikethrough]] bandaged and braced from his accident at Erie. That month he was also actively engaged in founding a relief fund for dependent aviators' widows and children. Through his efforts this fund was started in April, 1912 with the backing of the Guggenheim Family, to be managed by the Aeronautical Society. That spring he was planning to start an aeroplane company and in June he formed the Mars-Fowler Company at Kansas City, Missouri with the renowned trans-continental aviator Robert Fowler. Plans were to deal in aeroplanes and promote exhibitions, but apparently nothing came of this venture. Early in 1912 Mars was also an aviation writer for the New York World Telegram.

On August 22d Mars flew at DeKalb, Illinois for the Knights of Columbus, on August 29th he was at Champaign, Illinois, [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] but on September 4th at Olean, New York he had another smashup [[strikethrough]] at Olean, New York, [[/strikethrough]] putting him in the hospital again. This apparently was his last exhibition flight, for as 1912 ended he had given up flying.

In 1913 Mars was working for the Columbia Gas and Fuel Company, Newark, Ohio. During the summer of 1916 Mars and Augustus Post were trying to start a New York Flying Yacht Club for wealthy sportsmen.

During World War I Mars was a First Lieutenant in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps. Following that he entered the real estate business for a time, then started a flying school in Westchester County, New York, where he taught students until 1924. He then went into sanitary engineering and air conditioning in California and lived in Los Angeles and South Pasadena for several years. Mars retired in 1941 due to ill health and at age 68 passed away on July 25th, 1944 at the Los Angeles Veterans Hospital following a heart attack. He was survived by his wife and a brother, Thomas, of Muskegon, Michigan. [[strikethrough]] Reportedly [[/strikethrough]] He had never fully recovered from the flying accident at Erie, Pennsylvania.

Flying Pioneer Bud Mars was one of those remarkable [[strikethrough]] first [[/strikethrough]] early exhibition aviators who started his [[strikethrough]] early life [[/strikethrough]] career entertaining the public, transferring from professional ballooning to the aeroplane almost from the start of its public showings. Showmanship was in his blood and even though his career was plagued by innumerable accidents he carried on. An active pilot, he loved the game and the excitement of circus life.

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