In 1983 the Hall of Fame was created to honor those who have made substantial contributions to the success of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta or have made important contributions to AIBF and/or the sport of ballooning. The past presidents of the Board of Directors accept nominations and vote on possible inductees in late summer with any induction taking place during the Awards Ceremony held the last Saturday of Balloon Fiesta. 

The Inductees

Click on the names to read the bios.

October 8, 1983

Sid Cutter
Senator Tom Rutherford
Mayor Harry Kinney
Charles "Charlie" L. Hines

October 12, 1985

Ben Abruzzo
Maxie L. Anderson
John C. Davis IV

October 10, 1987

Sheri Bachtell Moore

October 8, 1988

Marge Ruppenthal

October 12, 1991

Bob Ruppenthal

October 10, 1992

Jacqueline Hockey

October 9, 1993

Jim Shiver

October 8, 1994

Al Kinney

October 14, 1995

Tom McConnell

October 11, 1997

Bruce W. Hale

October 10, 1998

James Baca
Jim "Badtoe" Benson
Aubrey Cookman
Betty Perkins

October 9, 1999

Jodi Baugh
Mark Sullivan

October 13, 2001

Linda Rutherford

October 12, 2002

George Hahn

October 9, 2004

Frank Mezzancello
J.W. Byrd

October 8, 2005

Carol Rymer Davis

October 14, 2006

Steve Yazzie

October 13, 2007

Al Tetreault

October 10, 2009

Harry T. Season, Jr.

October 9, 2010

Pat J. Brake
Gov. Bruce King

October 8, 2011

Sam Baxter
Richard Abruzzo

October 13, 2012

Ray Bair
Rodney A. May
Kim Vesely

October 12, 2013

John R. Sena

October 10, 2015

Richard W. Rice

October 8, 2016

Dick Brown

October 14, 2017

Scott Appelman

October 12, 2019

Randy Lefevre

October 9, 2021

Ken Tuley aka Art Lloyd Jr.

October 8, 2022

Jewel Cutter
Paul Smith

October 14, 2023

Nancy Wertz
Steve Stucker