Harmon Trophy
Abruzzo was born on May 19, 1963 to Ben Abruzzo and Patricia Ann "Pat" Steen Abruzzo.  In his home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico his business enterprises included real estate and ski lifts. The ballooning accomplishments of his father Ben, who was part of the balloon crews to first cross the Atlantic ocean in the Double Eagle II and the Pacific ocean in the Double Eagle V, encouraged Richard's lifetime of balloon accomplishments. In 1992 Richard flew the first gas balloon from North America to Africa breaking the distance record previously held by his father. He was a five time champion in the America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race winning in 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, and 2004.   The National Aeronautic Association awarded Richard Abruzzo the Harmon Trophy as the year's outstanding aeronaut in 2001, 2003, and 2005. The 2001 Harmon Trophy was for the longest solo flight from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Crawfordville, Georgia. The 2003 Harmon Trophy was for the first solo gas balloon transcontinental flight from San Diego to the Georgia coast.