BarbTUSA

It’s the time of year when I awaken with thoughts of ballooning every day. Today was no exception. Tom Rutherford, a ballooning enthusiast I’ve been privileged to call friend for over 30 years now, happens to have been dubbed by the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau as Albuquerque’s Ballooning Expert. A member of the Balloon Fiesta Hall of Fame since 1983, this year the Balloon Fiesta Heritage Committee commemorates his long-standing service with The Heritage Pin, a limited-edition commemorative pin honoring pioneers of the sport of ballooning.