Mayor Suthers to present Spirit of the Springs Celebration Award to Dewey Reinhard, founder of the Labor Day Lift Off

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers will present the Spirit of the Springs Celebration Award to Richard "Dewey" Reinhard on Monday, Sept. 26.

According to the Mayor's Office, Mr. Reinhard will receive the award in recognition of his contributions to the Colorado Springs community. Reinhard founded and organized the first Colorado Springs Balloon Classic in 1976. The festival became one of the five largest balloon exhibitions in the country, the largest air show in Colorado, and it was named among the top 100 events in North America.

In 2015, the event became known as the Labor Day Lift Off. It just celebrated its 46th year with nearly 80 balloons and an attendance record with more than 200,000 spectators.

“If you’ve ever enjoyed hot air balloons in Colorado Springs, you have Dewey Reinhard to thank,” said Mayor John Suthers. “We are grateful that he started a lasting tradition here in Colorado Springs that brings great joy to participants and a great benefit to our city.”

The awards ceremony will take place Monday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m. in the City Administration Building located at 30 S. Nevada.

More information about the Spirit of the Springs Award can be found here.