Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Albuquerque, USA - September 21, 2010

In 2005, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Heritage Committee established the Heritage Pin, a limited-edition commemorative pin honoring pioneers of the sport of ballooning and, in particular, the Balloon Fiesta.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

This year, the Committee is proud to honor a man who has long been associated with this internationally famous ballooning event.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

On April 8, 1972, Tom Rutherford helped launch the very first version of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Back then it was a hastily-arranged gathering in a vacant lot near the mall, attended by a grand total of 13 balloons.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

But 10,000 people showed up to see them race!

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

At that time, Tom Rutherford was an aspiring, young politician with a golden radio voice at radio station 770 KOB (now KKOB).

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

When the station asked Sid Cutter to organize a balloon race as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Tom was assigned to assist with the “balloon” portion of the event.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

He fell in love with balloons and ballooning and joined Sid’s corporate and events promotion company, World Balloon Championships.

Tom Rutherford was an aspiring, young politician with a golden radio voice at radio station 770 KOB.  Courtesy of abqradio.com

For many years, Tom flew balloons for corporate clients – most notably Budweiser – at events around the country.
As Tom’s balloon career took off, his political career took off too.

Balloonmeister Tom Rutherford Courtesy of balloonlife.com

He served for 24 years in the New Mexico State Senate, and at the time of his retirement, was Majority Floor Leader.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

He subsequently served two terms on the Bernalillo County Commission, and now focuses his career on administrative law and government affairs.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Tom remains active with the Balloon Fiesta and (with Glen Moyer) is one of its field announcers.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

He also acts as a TV color commentator and as emcee of many awards ceremonies and other events associated with Balloon Fiesta.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

For more information, contact 
Kathie Leyendecker at 505-228-9874.

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/news/25/57/TOM-RUTHERFORD-HONORED-WITH-2010-HERITAGE-PIN  

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque is the premier ballooning city due to the crystal skies, perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box."

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

With a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, the box allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventure.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Balloon Fiesta Park covers over 200 acres and is filled with balloons and vendors selling everything from traditional New Mexican food to Balloon memorabilia.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Each year balloons come from around the world to participate in the event and news coverage originates from more than 50 countries.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

It has become the most photographed event in the world.

Earth, Wind and Flyers Photo Contest 2010

Official Entry Rules

• All entries must be submitted on line.

• All entries must be a JPEG image with a maximum size of 5 megabytes.

• A non-refundable $5.00 entry fee must accompany photo entry. There is a one entry limit per person.

• Photographs MUST be taken between October 2 and 10, 2010. Photographs may be of any subject related to the 2010 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

• Photographs must be taken and owned by the entrant. Entries become the property of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc., and AIBF will have free reproduction rights.

• All entries are eligible for the Grand Prize. In addition, First, Second and Third place prizes in each of the four categories will be awarded. Only one prize per entry.

• Any taxes applicable to the prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners.

• Entries must be submitted by October 17, 2010 at midnight MST.

• All judging will be final by November 1, 2010. Finalists will be notified of their winning entry and prizes awarded.

• AIBF and Nikon employees and their immediate family members are not eligible.

• All entries must be placed here on the AIBF website.

• There are four categories: Adult (Ages 16 - 59), Junior (15 & Under), Professional, Senior (60 & Older).


The Prizes


The Grand Prize will be:

(1) NIKON D3100 Outfit with lens,

(2) a Balloon Ride for two in the 2011 Balloon Fiesta (weather permitting) and weight restrictions may apply,

(3) 2010 signed David Welch Balloon Fiesta Poster and

(4) as the cover photo on the 2011 Balloon Fiesta Calendar.


First, Second and Third place prizes in each of the four categories will be:

1st Place – all categories: NIKON Coolpix P100
AIBF Official Pin Set

2nd Place – all categories: NIKON Coolpix S8000
25 AIBF Calendars

3rd Place – all categories: NIKON Coolpix S70
(or similar models of equal value)
Ceramic Official AIBF Poster tile

On November 1, 2010, all winning photo entries will be available for viewing online in the "Best of the Best at Balloon Fiesta" photo gallery on the AIBF website.


http://www.balloonfiesta.com/event-info/photo-contest  

The First Race

While planning the KOB 50th Anniversary party the following spring, Susan Johnson, then promotional director for the station, was looking for a centerpiece of her own to celebrate this important birthday for the station.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

She found Sid flying the "club" balloon which had been purchased by the founders of the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (now the largest local balloon club in the world).

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

As you can read in her own words elsewhere in this program, the relationship between KOB and Sid Cutter was cemented and the idea of a balloon race began to take shape.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

With very little time, but an enormous wealth of enthusiasm, Sid Cutter, Don and Mike Draper and Tom Rutherford of KOB, set about putting together the largest balloon race in the world at that time, and invited 21 balloons to attend the event.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Last minute cancellations and a miserable storm in the Midwest limited the participants to 13 balloons, but each and every one was given red carpet treatment and put on a show for some 20,000 spectators that Albuquerque would never forget.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

The pilots came from Arizona, California, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Texas and they left with the impression that Albuquerque was a wonderful place to fly and that it had about the most hospitable bunch of people you'd ever want to find.


http://www.balloonfiesta.com/history/down-memory-lane/the-first-race  

The Real Fiesta Emerges

In spite of a shoestring budget, the 1975 World Championships/International Balloon Fiesta was a huge success.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

The move to Simms Field gave the spectators a wonderful opportunity to become more involved with the balloonists by sharing the field with them as they launched and flew over the field during the competition.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

This spectator participation has become an integral part of the Balloon Fiesta's character ever since.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Changes in the competitive events placed less emphasis on the barograph, so prominent and controversial in the '73 Championships.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

And the significant increase in the number of "fun flyers" and innovative Fiesta events add more of the Albuquerque spirit to the overall event.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

The beautiful October weather was also credited with pushing attendance up to nearly 150,000 spectators.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

The final day of the 1975 World Championships marked the end of an era for the Balloon Fiesta.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Although Sid Cutter and Tom Rutherford organized the event, it was their last, as the baton had been passed to the City, which immediately transferred responsibility to the newly formed Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. (AIBF).

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

This non-profit corporation was created for the sole purpose of putting on all future Fiestas. No longer would the Balloon Fiesta include world championship competition.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

Albuquerque had discovered that it was better at providing fun-loving, southwestern hospitality than at organizing strict, high-pressured competitive championship races.

1976 set the pattern for all Balloon Fiestas to come.

Courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

For the first Fiesta run entirely by the new AIBF, Bob Ruppenthal was named Balloonmeister and he organized races that would be fun first, and determine prizes second.
Pilot disputes were to be resolved with water balloon fights.

The new credo of the Balloon Fiesta became
"The pilot that has the most fun is the one that wins".


Photographs courtesy of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/history/down-memory-lane/the-real-fiesta-emerges