HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HERB KELLEHER, CEO OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 7
(Extensions of Remarks - January 14, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E41-E42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HERB KELLEHER, CEO OF SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES
______
HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON
of texas
in the house of representatives
Monday, January 14, 2019
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, as the representative of the
30th Congressional District of Texas, I rise today to recognize the
life and legacy of Mr. Herb Kelleher, CEO of Southwest Airlines.
Herb Kelleher was one of a kind. He embodied the colorful spirit and
joyful nature of the airline he cofounded. He exuded this bright
personality whether he was on television, in a room full of people, or
speaking to just one individual. Beyond instilling the value of fun in
his company, he revolutionized air travel by making the low-cost, low-
fare airline accessible for many Americans.
Born in New Jersey, he studied English and philosophy at Wesleyan
University and then law at New York University. It was his wife, Joan,
whom he met on a blind date, who persuaded him to set up a law firm in
Texas. Southwest Airlines was born not on the back of a cocktail napkin
as he later liked to boast, but when one of his legal clients, Rollin
King, owner of a small commuter airline, and his banker, John Parker,
came to his office. Both men found travelling between the cities of
Houston, Dallas and San Antonio inconvenient and expensive and thought
they could do it better. With Herb Kelleher's help, they succeeded.
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Since it's conception as a public company in 1971, Southwest has
succeeded by just about every measure. In more than 45 years, in an
industry filled with bankruptcies and mergers, Southwest has never had
a year where it lost money. Under Mr. Kelleher's leadership, Southwest
broke through in an industry entrenched with big names to offer a new
spin on commercial air travel. In addition, the company promoted a
healthy work environment before the idea became a widely-embraced
corporate concept.
To Mr. Kelleher, Southwest Airlines was more than just another
company; to him, it was a cause. His goal was to keep fares low and fly
to as many cities as possible. In his words, the focus was to
``democratize the skies'' by making it as easy, affordable, and
flexible for everyday Americans to travel. Such a mission may seem
quaint today, but it was a revolutionary aspiration back when he first
began.
Madam Speaker, the life of Herb Kelleher that we celebrate today is a
testament to the value of great character and honesty. Because of Mr.
Kelleher, Southwest Airlines made an essential contribution to
America's quality of life. And most importantly, for Dallas and Texans
statewide, Mr. Kelleher made an essential and long-lasting economic
contribution to our region. Today as we reflect on his life, it is safe
to say that the late Mr. Kelleher made a very real contribution to our
world, and we are all witnessing the benefit of those contributions
today.
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