October 25, 2023 – It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of longtime AAU member, colleague, and friend John Boyer, who passed away on September 26, 2023, at the age of 87.

John was deeply involved with the growth of AAU Track and Field and the AAU Junior Olympic Games. He served as the AAU Junior Olympic Games Meet Director from 1998-2007, and he was the Club Championship Meet Director up until 2007 as well.

In 2001, John was recognized by the AAU as the recipient of the Don and Pat Kavadas Memorial Award, presented at the AAU National Convention to a volunteer in the sport of Track and Field. He also served as the national chair of the AAU Track & Field Committee in 2006-08 and was elected to the AAU Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2007.

An Algiers, Louisiana native, who moved to Gretna in 2002, John’s name was synonymous with track and field all through Louisiana. In addition to his work with the AAU, he served as a track and field official for over 40 years working youth, high school, and collegiate level events. He helped found the Southern Track and Field Officials Association in the mid-80s.

John was recognized as Volunteer of the Year from Disney Wide World of Sports (now ESPN Wide World of Sports) in 2003. He also won a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2014.

He received four different keys to the City of New Orleans for his services to the community. In addition to AAU Track and Field, he was also known to volunteer his time for the PelState Regional Cerebral Palsy Victory Games, Children’s Hospital, and Special Olympics, among others.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and was an avid lover of dogs. He also frequented the many different restaurants of the area by going weekly with his “lunch krewe”.

John will be deeply missed by the AAU family, but we will always remember his dedication to AAU Track and Field, his generosity, and the happy memories we got to share with him over the years.