James "Rusty" Hevelin is a science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 fan

Science fiction fandom

Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...

, fanzine

Science fiction fanzine

A science fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day...

 publisher, collector and huckster

Huckster

A huckster is a seller of small articles, who tricks others into buying cheap imitation products and then bargains them as if they were the real thing...

. He has been an active member of the science fiction community since the 1930s, publishing his own fanzines such as H-1661, as well as contributing to many others. He has been Fan Guest of Honor and Toastmaster

Toastmaster

Toastmaster is a general term, prevalent in the United States in the middle 20th century, referring to a person in charge of the proceedings of a public speaking event. The toastmaster is typically charged with organization of the event, arranging the order of speakers, introducing one or more of...

 at so many science fiction conventions that everyone (including Rusty) has lost count. He was the Fan Guest of Honor at the 1981 Worldcon

Worldcon

Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society...

, Denvention Two

39th World Science Fiction Convention

The 39th World Science Fiction Convention , also known as Denvention II, was held 3–7 September 1981 at the Denver Hilton Hotel in Denver, Colorado, USA.The chairmen were Suzanne Carnival and Don C. Thompson....

 (he had attended Denvention One

3rd World Science Fiction Convention

The 3rd World Science Fiction Convention was Denvention I, which was held July 4–6, 1941, at the Shirley-Savoy Hotel in Denver, USA. This was the last Worldcon before there was a break in the annual tradition due to World War II. The next Worldcon was held in 1946.The guest of honor at the third...

 in 1941). He is a member of First Fandom

First Fandom

First Fandom is an association of experienced science fiction fans.In 1958 a number of fans at Midwestcon realized amid table-talk that they all had been active in fandom for more than 20 years. This inspired the creation of an organization for longstanding fans under the initial chairmanship of...

, and is particularly likely to participate in panel discussions on the history of fandom and fanzines, and in panels of the form, "So: This Is Your First Convention? Here's What To Expect." He is well-known as a collector of science fiction materials, and was the recipient of the 2003 Sam Moskowitz Archive Award for excellence in science fiction collecting.

He also was one of the founders of PulpCon, an annual convention dedicated to pulp magazines.

Personal life

Hevelin is a veteran of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 who served in the South Pacific

Pacific Ocean theater of World War II

The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....

. After the war he attended Antioch College

Antioch College

Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...

, where he knew Rod Serling

Rod Serling

Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...

 and dated Coretta Scott

Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader. The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.Mrs...

 (well before she met Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...

). He has four grown sons, John, Scott, Bruce and Will.