UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE NATIONAL

BALLOON MUSEUM

Carol Rymer Davis became a Balloonist in 1972 and was certified for both hot air and gas balloons.  She participated in many ballooning events in the U. S. and around the world, was a Balloon Federation of America life member and officer, leader and teacher in ballooning activities, and received many honors in ballooning.  Her professional career was in radiology and nuclear medicine.  She also had a distinguished Army career and was a retired Colonel in the Army reserve.  She died in 2010 when the balloon “USA-2” she and Richard Abruzzo were piloting in the Gordon Bennett Cup Balloon race in Europe disappeared in the Adriatic Sea. 

   Dr. William C. Grabb                       

Dr. William C. Grabb is known as “The Gentleman Balloonist”.  He began ballooning in 1967 when he purchased his first balloon from the Raven Company.  Before he took his balloon home he had two days of training from Ed Yost, the inventor of the modern hot air balloon, who at the time was Vice President of Raven.  He received additional training from Bruce Comstock.  He had previously served in the U. S. Air Force.  He was certified in both hot air and gas balloons and flew more than 250 hours in flight both nationally and internationally have participated in many ballooning events. He was past president of the Balloon Federation of America and during which time he played an important role in the establishment of the National Balloon Museum in Indianola.  He was also  The CIA Ballooning Commission Delegate to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, in Paris, France.  He had a medical degree from the University of Michigan and eventually became Head of Plastic Surgery at the University.  He died of a heart attack in 1982 at the age of 53.

  Matt Wiederkehr

Matt Wiederkehr together with his two balloonist daughters hold over 40 world ballooning records.  In addition to his world records he has participated in many ballooning events around the country including being one of the 13 balloonists participating in first ballooning event in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1971, which is now known as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta..  He was also a dealer for Raven Balloons.  He operated an advertising company using balloons to carry the names of the companies he represented.    Notable among his balloons was the red and white Coca-Cola balloon.

This event occurs during the National Balloon Classic which this year will be held July 27-August 4.