R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The only short-haul, low-fare, high-frequency, 1-2 point-to-point carrier in America, Southwest Airlines has won the 1-3 airline industry's coveted Triple Crown for Best On-Time Record, 1-4 Best Baggage Handling, and Fewest Customer Complaints more than 30 1-5 times in the past three decades, and the company shows no sign of 1-6 being put out to pasture any time soon; and 1-7 WHEREAS, The brainchild of Rollin King and Herb Kelleher, the 1-8 airline began operating on June 18, 1972, with just three jets 1-9 flying passengers to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio; today, the 1-10 company is the fourth-largest U.S. airline in terms of domestic 1-11 customers carried, with 346 jets flying to 57 cities across the 1-12 United States, ably serving even those misguided individuals who 1-13 elect to travel outside the Lone Star State for vacation or 1-14 business; and 1-15 WHEREAS, While some may believe Southwest's phenomenal 1-16 success is based on its spacious seating and fancy meals, airline 1-17 watchdogs rightly attribute its prosperity to the leadership of 1-18 Herb Kelleher, chairman, president, CEO, and top banana, as well as 1-19 the company's more than 30,000 employees, who are a rare breed unto 1-20 themselves; and 1-21 WHEREAS, From the airline's reservation clerks, to its 1-22 baggage handlers, to its flight attendants and pilots, all are 1-23 committed to providing their customers with the highest quality of 1-24 service possible, and they pursue their duties with a sense of 2-1 warmth, friendliness, pride, and company spirit unparalleled in 2-2 corporate America; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Despite routinely encountering such occupational 2-4 hazards as phobic flyers, last-minute gate runners, crying babies, 2-5 overhead storage hogs, and airsick-bag huggers, Southwest employees 2-6 manage to put all at ease with their charm, wit, sincerity, and 2-7 hard work and can coax a smile from even the weariest of travelers 2-8 with their unexpected flights of fancy; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Repeatedly listed in FORTUNE magazine as one of the 2-10 most admired companies in the world and one of the best companies 2-11 to work for in America, Southwest Airlines is a Texas success 2-12 story, and it is a privilege to honor all those who have 2-13 contributed to its high-flying image and to welcome its employees 2-14 who are visiting on this day; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby recognize March 21, 2001, as Southwest Airlines 2-17 Day at the State Capitol and commend Herb Kelleher and the 2-18 employees of Southwest Airlines for routinely taking out their 2-19 happiness on the passengers they serve; and, be it further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for the visiting delegation as an expression of high 2-22 regard and for Mr. Kelleher as a formal reminder that today's CEOs 2-23 don't even consider retirement until they have been head honcho for 2-24 at least 50 years. Goolsby _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 578 was adopted by the House on March 21, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House