ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The ballooning community is honoring one of Albuqeurque International Balloon Fiesta’s founders, Tom Rutherford, who died last November. To honor his memory, officials will name the two upper decks at the golf and event center at Balloon Fiesta Park after him. Rutherford served New Mexico as a state senator and as Bernalillo County commissioner.
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He was a champion of human rights, equality, and was also a balloon pilot. He helped grow the sport of hot air ballooning internationally and in New Mexico. To those who knew him, he was a dependable guy who always wanted to help serve his community.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to get a little bit emotional but of all the people I’ve met in my life, I’ve never met someone with such potential who could have been anything, he could have been a governor, he could have been a senator in Washington, he could have been anything but he was always giving of himself and he was amazing,” said Dr. Steven A. Komadina, M.D.
Rutherford died at the age of 77.
