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IN
T
RI
B
U
T
E
SID CUTTER
Father of Ballooning in Albuquerque and
Founder of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
By Kim Vesely, Editor, Balloon Fiesta Official Program
T
his spring, Albuquerque and
balloonists throughout the
world said goodbye to Sid
Cutter. The unassuming
local businessman – a “kind
of Chamber of Commerce guy”, he once
called himself – who became a balloonist
almost by accident when he took a
joyride in a balloon he bought as a party
centerpiece lost his battle with stomach
cancer on May 21, 2011.
Sid’s life’s journey was filled with
adventures most of us could never
imagine, but few people figure out a way
to take the whole world along with them
on that journey. Sid did. His enthusiasm,
energy, and vision turned Albuquerque into
the Balloon Capital of the World, created
the Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta, and changed the lives of thousands
of grateful balloonists and balloon-lovers
who came along for the ride.
Sid would be the first to say he didn’t
accomplish all of this alone, but without
Sid, it arguably wouldn’t have happened.
He organized the 13-balloon rally to
celebrate KOB Radio’s 50th anniversary
– now considered the first Balloon Fiesta
– without ever having seen a balloon race.
He then left a successful family business
to organize two World Hot Air Balloon
Championships and a couple of Balloon
Fiestas, and soon found this wasn’t a very
good way to put food on the table. As he
famously said, “I know there’s money in
ballooning. I put it there.”
Some would have let the Balloon Fiesta
fade into oblivion, as so many ballooning
events have around the country, but not
Sid. With the help of Mayor Harry Kinney,
who shared his vision, Sid successfully
transitioned the operation of the Balloon
Fiesta to a citizens’ committee which
evolved into today’s Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. Today,
the Balloon Fiesta retains its eminence
as the world’s premiere ballooning
event, bringing hundreds of thousands of
spectators to New Mexico and millions
into Albuquerque’s economy.
in sharing that knowledge with the
hundreds of pilots he trained and certified
for licenses (including this author). He
was a fierce competitor and really good
(two national championships). Of course,
this didn’t keep him from having to ditch
a balloon (the Jolly Roger, no less) in the
Bermuda Triangle during a Bahamas to
Florida balloon race, but the wind died –
stuff happens. It’s a measure of his charm
that his then-girlfriend Jewel, along for the
ride, married him anyway.
Sid won a whole ton of awards and
recognitions – a list is included in this
article – but he was so much more than
that. He was one of those rare individuals
who, in making a real difference for
his community, took the time to make a
difference for people. His passing leaves
a hole in many lives and in the fabric of
Albuquerque. We are proud to dedicate
the 40th Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta to Sid Cutter.
Sid was a heck of a pilot in just about
anything that flew, and incredibly generous
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Sid and Tom Rutherford. Photo Courtesy of Tom Rutherford
Tom Rutherford, friend, business partner,
and a co-organizer with Sid of the first
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
One of the important parts of Sid’s legacy
is the quality of the Balloon Fiesta. In
the beginning, our first challenge was to
win the right to host the first ever World
Championship for hot air balloons. We
knew that it would bring lots of attention
to Albuquerque and New Mexico if we
could, but only if there was participation by
balloonists from many nations. Sid knew
that it had to be a first class event. Ed
Yost, a universally accepted expert on all
things ballooning, was recruited as event
director.
But the roar was from a hot-air balloon
– my first balloon sighting. I learned that
Sid Cutter had started a balloon club,
the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension
Association (AAAA). My first real
encounter with Sid was at Coronado
Center in April 1972 where I captured KOB
Radio’s 50th anniversary balloon rally on
Kodachrome 25 slide film. After that, I was
hooked. I joined the Quad-A where Sid
introduced me to other early Albuquerque
balloon enthusiasts. Donna and I began
spending Saturday and Sunday mornings
on the mesa above Volcano Cliffs where
Quad-A first launched balloons.
And contestants were given airfare, freight
for their balloons, cars, hotels, banquets,
expense money and other significant gifts.
A silver trophy was created and replica
cufflinks, money clips and lapel pins were
created. Sid did all he could to establish
Albuquerque as the undisputed Ballooning
Capital of the World. Because of that early
vision, Albuquerque continues to hold that
title and the international attention that it
brings. He was a first class guy who has
left us a remarkable gift.
Dick Brown, early Albuquerque balloonist,
Montgolfier Diplome recipient, and former
editor of Ballooning, the journal of the Balloon
Federation of America
One summer morning in 1971, not far from
the Albuquerque airport, I heard a loud
roar in the sky. If it was an airplane, it was
in trouble.
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By the fall of 1972, Sid was flying a
big balloon portraying Warner Bros’
Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoon
characters. This balloon was awkward
and sluggish, but that was nothing
compared to the Coyote’s ludicrous
contraptions from the ACME mail-order
company. In those days, we were still
learning how to fly balloons and sometimes
we burned the skirt to a crisp, not unlike
the fateful Coyote being burned to a crisp
when his elaborate plans to catch the
ever-elusive Roadrunner failed. Sid made
some hard landings in the balloon but
nothing like the Coyote’s terminal descents
and splats on the desert floor. Each flight
became another win for our beloved state
bird - the Roadrunner. Big balloons need
big crews so we helped Sid with inflation,
chasing and packing up. In return, Sid
gave us our very first balloon ride over
some of New Mexico’s spectacular
landscape - scenes that closely resembled
the cartoon background. Sid’s choice for
this awesome balloon design was perfect.
Ballooning brought us together and
memories keep us going. We will always
treasure the great times with Sid. He
changed our lives forever.
Ty Young, balloon pin expert and collector
extraordinaire and member of the
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Board of Directors
I first met Sid Cutter when I was around 7
or 8 years old. At the time, I had no idea
who he was nor the important figure he
was in the community. I was just starting
to trade balloon pins and of course I
approached him to see if I could get one
of his pins of his very well known World
Balloon. He had just completed a morning
of flying at the Balloon Fiesta and was
surrounded by many of his family, friends
and crew. When I finally got the nerve to
ask him if he would trade a pin with me,
he stopped what he was doing and said,
“follow me”. He took me into his chase
truck and pulled out his stock pile of pins
that made my eyes pop wide open. He
reached into the bag and laid out a number
of different pins, most of which I’d never
seen before. He asked to see what I was
offering and I showed him the only pin
I had to trade. He then took the time to
explain what all his different pins were
and the balloons they represented. After
he was done, he told me to pick out my
Sid and Jewel Cutter.
favorite. Of course I picked
out the one I was after…his
well-known World Balloon.
After he asked me to make
sure that’s the one I wanted,
he proceeded to gather all
the different ones up in his hand and give
them all to me, saying “you’re going to
need some extras to get your collection
started”. I couldn’t believe my luck and as
the years went by, I always made a point to
find him and give him one of my new pins
each year. Sid was such a kind man. He
didn’t care if you were a millionaire, down
to your last dime, an old man in his dotage
or a child as young as I. His kindness is
what I will miss the most, but I’ll always
have those pins as a reminder of when I
first met Sid Cutter.
Mark Sullivan, champion hot air and
gas balloonist, U.S. delegate to the FAI
International Ballooning Commission, and
Diplome Montgolfier recipient
Sid definitely changed my life. I bought my
first balloon from Sid in January 1983 and
we became instant friends. Sid took me
under his wing and we shared many great
adventures together in the air, under the
water and on the seas.
Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s we
competed against each other in the local
Top Gun events so we could qualify for
Sid Cutter:
Accomplishments and Awards:
• Founder of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
• Organized the First and Second World Hot Air Balloon Championships
• Founded the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (AAAA), the
largest local balloon club in the world
• Accumulated 18,000+ hours in airplanes and helicopters and more than 5,000 hours in hot air and gas balloons
• Served in the U.S. Air Force and flew jets, large cargo aircraft and helicopters
• Formed and operated World Balloon Corporation, running a repair station and flying commercial balloons all over the world for a lengthy list of
sponsors such as Anheuser Busch, Kraft and Black Angus.
• Federal Aviation Administration Designated Examiner; taught and certified hundreds of balloon pilots
• U.S. Hot Air Balloon Champion in 1978 and 1986
• Finished second in the World Hot Air Balloon Championships in 1979
• US National Team Championship (with Mark Sullivan and Troy Bradley), 1995
• Designed and built two of the worlds largest thermal airships for Anheuser
Busch. (larger than Goodyear’s gas airships at that time)
• Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing pilots who have demonstrated
professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for
50 or more years.
• Diplome Montgolfier, ballooning’s highest award.
• Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (World Air Sports Federation) Hall of
Fame
• Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame
• New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame
• Balloon Federation of America Hall of Fame
• Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Hall of Fame
• 2002 Olympic Torchbearer representing Albuquerque and ballooning
• 40th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in 2011 dedicated to Sid Cutter
• Balloon Fiesta Heritage Award (first recipient)
• AAAA’s highest award is named in honor of Sid Cutter
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the U.S. National Championship. Many
years at the U.S. Nationals we teamed
up to increase our odds against the
other competitors and in 1986 Sid won
his second U.S National title. In 1995
Sid, myself and Troy Bradley teamed
up and won the 1st U.S. National Team
Championship in Gwinnett, Georgia. Sid
and I flew together in the U.S. National
Gas Balloon Championship, took 4th in the
1990 World Gas Balloon Championship
in Tyndall, SD, and had two great flights
in the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon
Race. We caught tarpon, big mouth bass,
fly fished for trout and scuba dived some of
the best spots in the world, always having
great fun, many times laughing until our
sides ached. Sid and Jewel were always
the leaders in finding new and exciting
things to do and I was truly honored to be
included in so many of their adventures.
If you are lucky you will find a friend like
Sid once in a lifetime and I am proud to
have called Sid my best friend.
Dr. Tom McConnell, ancient Albuquerque
balloonist, AIBF Board Member,
and longtime friend
Sid Cutter’s Last Stand
When Sid Cutter was dying a few
months ago, and he couldn’t quite get
the hang of it, here is the story of what
really happened. In March, and before,
Mary [Tom’s wife] and I would figure
out some way to visit Sid and Jewel
at Cutter Corner, or go out to lunch, or
talk on the phone. Mostly it was about
production of the 40th book. Last year I
helped Sid write his introduction. Well,
big talk. He wrote it, and I suggested
a few syntax or grammatical changes.
Telling the story, in his own words, was
Sid’s forte. No one could concoct a story,
and keep his audience more spellbound,
than Sid. Punctuated by dry humor and
irony, his stories would just tend to reveal
themselves. And as Sid often said, some
of it was true. Later in the spring, it was
about Sid seeing the actual book, first in
final draft form, then the real thing. Sid
was thrilled - he loved the book. Forty
years of something he created.
But the cancer was getting worse all
the time. Finally, after multiple palliative
procedures, Sid went on Hospice. He was
miserable. Jewel cared for him night and
day. I asked him what I should tell all the
people that were asking about him. He
Sid with 40th year book editors Tom McConnell, Paul Rhetts, Dick Brown,
and Kim Vesely
said, “Tell them I look terrible, and not to
call or come visit me!” So, that’s what I
told people.
Then I learned that Goody [Harris
Goodwin] and Mark and others had come
to visit, and that he got a kick out of every
visit. Tom Rutherford visited and called
often. When Tom went to the Balloon
Federation of America Convention in Iowa
in early April, he had the habit of calling Sid
on his cell phone, saying “Someone wants
to talk to you,” and then handing over
the phone to a close and old ballooning
friend from the past. I happened to be
present one morning when it was Denny
Floden’s [1973 First World Hot Air Balloon
Champion] turn, and Sid was absolutely
delighted to talk to him. Since all of us
were disobeying his “orders,” finally Sid
said to Jewel one day, “None of my friends
are doing what I told them, so the hell with
it...let’s have a party!”
Sid did not want a funeral or a memorial
service, but he did want one last beer
party. So, that’s what he got. On Sunday,
April 24, there was the grandest party at
Cutter Corner. Hundreds of Sid’s friends
came, from all over the U.S. Mark Sullivan
and Bill Bussey blew up 300 helium
balloons, aviation people came to cook
brats and burgers, and Sid sat on the
tailgate from his truck on his patio and
greeted everyone, shaking hands, having
pictures made, and even drinking a Bud.
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Sid loved that party. At one point, someone
said, ‘Everyone who ever worked for Sid
Cutter, come over here for a picture.”
My God, half the people at the party got
in the picture! Then the balloons were
released, to let God know that Sid was
coming. Many got stuck in the Cutter
backyard trees, which was not lost on Sid’s
sense of humor.
Many of us thought he might not make it to
his last party, but true to form, Sid made it
and had an excellent time.
God Bless you Sid - you have changed and
charmed thousands of lives. Godspeed on
your next flight!