S GHE HU TT O C O: S T PHO Above: Taken in 1977 at the Ponderosa Studios in Nevada during the National Balloon Rally, shows some of ballooning’s “first ladies”: Top row: Janice Hebrlee, Sandy McDonald, Lori McLain, Connie March, Charlotte Kinney. Second row: Ruth McLain, Sally Vale. Third row: Sandy Brannam, Nikki Caplan, and Marge Ruppenthal. balloon rating in New Mexico. But the first truly active Ellen Shaffer Osika, Sally Chapel, Glenda Watson, Connie female balloonists in the state, according to Balloon March, Gay Jensen-James, Phyllis McGuire, Judi Rice, Fiesta historian Tom McConnell’s research, were Loretto and Gail Short. Black (wife of car dealer Ed Black), Joan Florance, In addition to flying in the Balloon Fiesta – almost and Bev Grady, who were licensed in early 1973. They all did – many of these women soon assumed leading were soon followed by the rest of the first generation roles in the budding Balloon Fiesta. After Albuquerque of women balloon pilots in Albuquerque, who include International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. assumed stewardship (but are not limited to) Jonell Shepherd, Paula O’Brien of the event in 1976, Sheri Bachtell (later Moore) became Dougherty, Jane Martindale, Carol Rymer Davis, Pat Barz, one of its first board presidents, succeeding the event’s Marge Ruppenthal, Linda Rutherford, Judy Baron, Sue first chairperson, Betty Perkins. Linda Rutherford was Hazlett, Trudy Farr, Emily Wenz, Suzi Schmidt, Neida L. the first, and for a time the only, permanent employee (Mom) Courtney, Suzi Flynt, Sue Corlew, Sheri Bachtell and the event’s first Executive Director. When Linda Moore, Elaine Kramer Roderick, Charlotte Kinney, Sue retired from Balloon Fiesta, Marge Ruppenthal took over OFFICIAL PROGRAM 113