For more than 30 years, Jennings "Rusty" Buchanan has been a key figure in, and greatly influenced the, explosive growth of amateur youth sports across the United States.  The forty-eighth (48th) president of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Buchanan began his AAU career competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in the 400 hurdles in the late 1970's.  After his competition days, Buchanan turned his focus to developing amateur sport event opportunities for youth participants across the state of Florida and the United States.

One of the most prolific producers of youth sports tournaments, camps, clinics and festivals in America, Buchanan has hosted events in the Space Coast throughout a career spanning four (4) decades.

A 2014 member of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class for Lifetime Achievement, this is his second time being inducted into the Hall. For 2021, Buchanan is being honored with the Sports Ambassador Award, recognizing his tireless efforts and the countless hours spent bringing and overseeing, the successful running of the 2020 AAU Junior Olympic Games to the Space Coast, Florida area last summer. The success of this year's event was due to Buchanan's extensive knowledge and vast experience of running the Games: he oversaw the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 1990 (St. Petersburg, Fla), 1991 (Tallahassee, Fla), 1994 (Space Coast, Fla), and 2000 (Central Florida/Orlando, Fla).

Congratulations "Rusty" on a well-deserved accomplishment.

The following article was originally posted at spacecoastdaily.com

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2021, Special Recognition and Team of the Year

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced the members of the Class of 2021 during a press conference on Thursday.

Plans are now in the works for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s 11th induction ceremony, which will include compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.For more than a century, athletes from Brevard County have been considered among the finest in America and their accomplishments are honored and immortalized by the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

The date and venue of the induction of the 2020 and 2021 Classes of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame will be announced later this month.

The 2020 induction ceremony event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SELECTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES

Nominees are chosen in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports. Special honorary recognition is also be bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021:

■ PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Amber Torrealba, Skimboarding; Randy Pobst, Auto racing

■ COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lynisha Nelson, Basketball; Bryan Cook, Baseball; Steve Freeman, Soccer

■ PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Julie Wollrath, Cross Country; Kaira Simmons, Track & Field; Cameron Harris, Jr., Football

■ AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Alli Penovich, Free Diving

■ COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lee Mace, Football; Jim Oler, Basketball

■ SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEE: Klaus Stafe

■ SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEE: Capt. Eric Ciocher

■ SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Charles Clemente

■ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Larry Garrison

■ SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Rusty Buchanan

■ CHALLENGER AWARD INDUCTEE: Jordan Episcopo

■ TEAM OF THE YEAR: Astronaut High School Bowling

■ LEGACY CHAMPIONS: Merritt Island Baseball, 1999-2000

■ SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Fred Gay

COMING SOON TO SPACE COAST DAILY: INDUCTEE PROFILES AND VIDEO TRIBUTES

Please Note: Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in vetting nominations, this list could be expanded through April 1. The combined 2020-2021 induction event will be held in May, with the exact day and venue to be announced. Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for updates.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME