2013 Art & Balloon Festival, August 30, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com Page 133
and continues to live in that area
today. He and wife, Jane, have
three daughters, all graduates
of Illinois universities. Their
youngest daughter, Danielle,
is also active in aviation. After
earning four degrees in avia-
tion, she is employed by United
Express, the regional carrier
of United Airlines. All three
daughters, along with a son-
in-law and a grandson, Gavin,
continue to crew for their father.
One highlight of Brouillet’s
career started in 2003. He and
Danielle were invited to crew for
Alan Blount at the BFA National
Championship in Anderson,
S.C. They were told by Blount
that if he finished high enough
in the rankings, he would qual-
ify for the 2004 World Champi-
onships in Mildura, Australia.
If he qualified, Pat, Danielle
and Blount’s daughter, Sarah,
would be invited to crew for him
in Australia. Alan did qualify,
and the four of them spent two
wonderful weeks ballooning and
touring Australia in 2004.
Brouillet said he does plan
to participate in the Saturday
morning balloon target toss
this year. As far as strategy for
hitting the target goes, he said:
“I find the ‘baseball’ throw to
be my best strategy as I am not
coordinated enough to make a
‘windup’ throw. The baggie al-
ways seems to get wound up on
something or ends up going the
wrong direction.”
Brouillet has a total of 11 fes-
tivals on his calendar this year
and said he very much enjoys
coming to Lincoln.
“Everyone in Lincoln treats us
like family,” Brouillet said. “My
sponsors welcome my family
and crew to their restaurant
every Friday for pizza, and they
invite us to their home on Sat-
urday for a cookout. The event
organizers, the folks at Hicksgas,
the staff at HI Express and eve-
ryone else in Lincoln make us
feel welcome and accommodate
us any way they can. Of course,
competing before the huge
crowds at the airport is always
fun, too.”
[By NILA SMITH]
