'This never gets old.' Minerva teacher designs, builds his own hot air balloon

Charita M. Goshay, The Repository
·5 min read
Ben Miller of Alliance, center, who has loved hot air balloons since he was 5, is assistant chair of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Balloon Classic. In 2019, Miller built his own balloon, which he christened "Twin Blessings" to honor his daughters. Dad Bill Miller is at left.
Ben Miller of Alliance, center, who has loved hot air balloons since he was 5, is assistant chair of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Balloon Classic. In 2019, Miller built his own balloon, which he christened "Twin Blessings" to honor his daughters. Dad Bill Miller is at left.

Ben Miller has kept his eyes on the skies since he was 5 years old. That's when he fell in love with hot air balloons.

"We would chase balloons for fun," said Miller's dad, Bill. "My dad had a Super 8 camera and made videos of balloons. Ben would watch endlessly. He started drawing pictures."

Fast forward, Miller is a teacher and dad of twin daughters, but one thing hasn't changed.

In 2019, Miller designed and made his own hot air balloon, which will be flown in this week's Pro Football Hall of Fame Balloon Classic. The event takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of Kent State University's Stark Campus in Jackson Township.

Miller also plans to showcase his balloon in the Greater Alliance Carnation Festival's Days in the Park balloon event, called Balloon Lift Off, from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 11 at Silver Park in Alliance. That event is weather-dependent.

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Because Miller is assistant "balloonmeister" of the event, his balloon, named "Twice Blessed," will be piloted by his longtime friend and event veteran Beth Davidson, owner of Zig Zag Balloons.

"I've been involved with the Hall of Fame Balloon Classic since 2002," said Miller, who earned his pilot's license from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2007. "I worked my way up. I started as a volunteer crew member."

Ben Miller, who teaches art at Minerva Middle School, talks about "Twin Blessings," the hot-air balloon he built in 2019. Friend Beth Davidson will fly Miller's balloon in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Classic.
Ben Miller, who teaches art at Minerva Middle School, talks about "Twin Blessings," the hot-air balloon he built in 2019. Friend Beth Davidson will fly Miller's balloon in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Classic.

'Once you have a balloon, everybody is family and crew.'

Balloon pilots are a tight-knit community. Among Miller's good friends is Hartville Fire Chief Mike Lorentz, who has had his license for seven years.

"Once you have a balloon, everybody is family and crew," Lorentz said.

An art teacher at Minerva Middle School, Miller started building his balloon in 2015 in the basement of his home in Alliance.

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"I bought a 1950s industrial sewing machine," Miller said, adding that he was assisted by his mentor, Mike Emrich of Akron, who has built his own balloons. "I learned through him how to sew."

Miller's is a 70-foot tall racing balloon. It is shaped like football, which enables it to ascend and descend during competitions much quicker than traditional balloons.

It has been flown about 30 times.

"When we first inflated it, I was a little nervous," Miller admitted.

Back in the 1990s, Ben Miller of Alliance was featured in the Canton Repository because of his great love for hot air balloons.
Back in the 1990s, Ben Miller of Alliance was featured in the Canton Repository because of his great love for hot air balloons.

Made from nylon and double-stitched seams, Miller said the balloon's colors and pattern have special meaning.

"The purple represents the ribbons commemorating preemies," he said. "My daughters were born at 29 weeks and spent 55 days in the NICU at Akron Children's Hospital."

Today, twins Spencer and Sawyer, 8, are healthy.

"One is really interested, the other isn't,'" he said with smile.

The balloon's white motif pays homage to the Greek flag, representing his ex-wife's heritage.

"The first time I saw it, I was blown away," a proud Bill Miller said.

'It takes a lot of time, a lot of paperwork and a lot of patience.'

In June, Ben Miller competed for the first time in the U.S. Team Nationals in Shreveport, Louisiana, flying with and against 15 of the country's best pilots, where he earned fifth place.

Davidson said it's rare for a pilot to build a balloon, which has to be certified by the FAA.

"Ben's a great guy; I'm so happy for him," she said. "It takes a lot of time, a lot of paperwork and a lot patience. He's followed it through at every level. He's been on crew, a commercial pilot, and now, on the national level."

Ben Miller of Alliance, who has loved hot air balloons since he was 5, built his own craft, which will fly in the Hall of Fame Balloon Classic this week.
Ben Miller of Alliance, who has loved hot air balloons since he was 5, built his own craft, which will fly in the Hall of Fame Balloon Classic this week.

Balloon pilots see the weather differently than other people. What may look like a pleasant, sunny day to others may not be conducive to flying because of wind speed. With an eye on the weather forecasts, pilots also look to the tops of the trees for guidance.

Too much movement can mean it's too risky.

But Miller said there's nothing like guiding a hot air balloon through the skies.

"You have fun every single time," he said. "This never gets old. Every flight is different. You never have the same experience twice. It's one of the unique activities we humans get to do. If you ever get the chance to go up in a balloon, take it. It's an opportunity to experience what most people don't get to experience."

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

If you go

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic presented by Aultman will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Kent State University at Stark and Stark State College campuses in Jackson Township. Here's the schedule:

Friday

  • 6:30 a.m. Balloon Classic launch (weather permitting).

  • 4 p.m. Balloon Classic will feature balloon-related activities, skydivers and live music. A balloon launch is at 6:30 p.m. (weather permitting) and the night glow is at 9 p.m.

Saturday

  • 6:30 a.m. Balloon Classic launch (weather permitting).

  • 8 a.m. Up, Up & Away 5k and Free Kids Fun Run at the Kent State University at Stark campus.

  • 4 p.m. Balloon Classic will feature balloon-related activities, skydivers and live music. A balloon launch is at 6:30 p.m. (weather permitting) and the night glow is at 9 p.m.

  • 10 p.m. Balloon Classic fireworks at the Kent State and Stark State campuses.

Sunday

  • 6:30 to 7 a.m. Balloon Classic launch (weather permitting).

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ben Miller of Alliance builds hot air balloon