Balloonmeister Honored
6/14/2010   For Immediate Release
Contact:  Marie Pinchuk 575 546-1617  mp2deming@swnm.com

(Deming)--Mr. Charles Hines of Bosque Farms, New Mexico was submitted for entry into the Guinnes Book of Records 
as the longest consecutively running Hot Air Balloon Rally BALLOONMEISTER.  This submission was made 
in August of 2009.
   In August 1979 Charlie and a few of the “old timers” from Albuquerque came to Deming to see if the weather 
was good enough for Hot Air Balloons to fly in August.  They found out they could fly. In 1980 when the Great 
American Duck Race officially started there were a few hot air balloons at the rally and the Balloonmeister for 
the event was Charles Hines.
   Charlie has been our balloonmeister ever since.  Last year we gave him the honor of Balloonmeister Emeritus 
after actively participating for 30 years!  He was up in years and his vision was not too good, but he still attended 
and assisted the new balloonmeister Harold Connell.
   Unfortunately in September of 2009 Charlie had a stroke and succumbed to it.  He will be missed very much 
and we will be honoring his life during the festivities this August.  We have planned a toast to his life at the 
Sponsor party and will have a mass colorful balloon release on Saturday prior to the mass ascension of Hot 
Air Balloons.  Please join us in this tribute to a wonderful person and supporter of the Great American Duck 
Races and Hot Air Balloon Rally.