Balloonmeister
Tom Rutherford

by Glen Moyer

"I got called in to help organize a promotion for the station's (KOB) 50th birthday which I then learned was to involve a balloon race," says Rutherford. During this promotion Rutherford would first met Sid Cutter (Albuquerque's first balloonist) and Don Kersten. At Kersten's urging, Cutter and Rutherford formed World Balloons in order to bid Albuquerque as host site for the First World Balloon Championship.

"It wasn't until later that we learned no one else had bid, or even been invited to bid for this event," Rutherford recalls, "and while successful, it proved an expensive lesson, so expensive that Sid and I decided we needed to get more deeply involved in ballooning. Cutter's line was always, 'I know there's money in ballooning because I put it there.'"

Soon World Balloon began operating smaller balloon races around the country and won a commercial contract to operate the Budweiser balloon. Rutherford, known then as 'Cutter's mouthpiece' because Sid did the flying and Tom the talking, did go on to get a pilot's license not out of need, but perhaps greed...

"One day the Pepsi people came to town to shoot a commercial and I would have been the star of that commercial if I'd only had a pilot's license, so I decided never to let that happen again."

After a less than distinguished flying career, Rutherford left World Balloons in 1978 to make an unsuccessful bid for the Lieutenant Governor's office. Despite this one setback his political career would flourish. Rutherford will retire from the State Senate in November following 24 consecutive years of service. He will continue to serve in a part time role as a member of the County Commission while embarking on a new career as a lobbyist.

To many Rutherford is best known as the "Voice" of Fiesta but surprisingly he cannot remember the first year that he stepped into that role. "I'm sure I flew in the first few Fiesta's," he says, "but often I would be asked to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Awards banquet or whatever and that's how my participation as a balloon race announcer began. Later, when I was no longer with World Balloons and no longer flying, being the announcer allowed me to stay involved with ballooning without the expense and the time. After all, you can be a safe balloon announcer if you only do it once or twice a year, but you can't be a safe balloon pilot if you fly just once or twice a year."

Once a founding father of Fiesta, Rutherford ceased to play an active role in its organization and operation several years ago when he and his wife Linda, former Executive Director of the Fiesta, divorced. Three years ago Rutherford almost saw his involvement with Fiesta disappear entirely through the bottom of a cocktail glass.

"One of the best things that has happened to me recently is coming to grips with my alcoholism," Rutherford volunteers. "It was three years ago right after Fiesta that I sought help and have faithfully since then participated in a 12-step recovery program. It has opened a whole new world for me. I had no idea how much of an impact alcohol was having on my life or the lives of people around me. By the same token, I had no idea how much of an effect being sober would have on me and the people around me. Today the colors are much brighter, the days more beautiful and everything about life, including the balloon fiesta, is so completely different.

"The message I'd like to deliver is that if you think you're having a problem with alcohol you probably are, but life can be so much better if you just seek the proper help."

Perhaps only Sid Cutter, aside from Tom Rutherford, could truly appreciate the just completed 25th Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and all that it has become through the years.

"I guess I was always more of a day to day kind of guy; I think Cutter always had this vision, but I never imagined it being this big. I've always lived close to Albuquerque in a sort of a small provincial kind of existence. Ballooning changed that for me, but Fiesta always seemed like the biggest thing in the world to me already."

As for what the next 25 years will bring Fiesta Rutherford says little will surprise him. "It is so well established and got off to such a strong start, and it has such a strong community base, Fiesta seems almost to have a life of its own.

"The ownership of Fiesta is in the community and not in the corporation. There are some very significant people who have made some very significant contributions, but the bottom line is that it is an event that is run by the community and its strength lies within the community."

And what will the future hold for Tom Rutherford? "I hope another 25 years behind the microphone at Fiesta. That really is fun for me!"

Career highlights:

1978 - left World Balloon to pursue politics and a law degree

Quotable Quotes: "I was balloonmesiter of the first Freedom Weekend Aloft in Greenville, SC, not because I was a good ballonmeister, but because they were going to make a movie about this event and I could talk good! " Tom Rutherford

"The fact is I get re-elected every year because of the Balloon Fiesta. Many more people know me from the Balloon Fiesta than know my record in politics so it (Fiesta) is a great boost to my name recognition." Tom Rutherford

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Copyright © 1996 Balloon Life. All rights reserved.