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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Herbert David Kelleher, cofounder of Southwest |
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Airlines and a legendary figure in the American aviation industry, |
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passed away on January 3, 2019, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Harry and Ruth Kelleher and the youngest |
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of four children, Herb Kelleher was born in Camden, New Jersey, on |
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March 12, 1931; he attended Wesleyan University and New York |
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University, where he obtained his law degree, and then moved to |
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Texas in 1962; in 1967, he joined forces with his friend and client |
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Rollin King to incorporate the company that would become Southwest |
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Airlines, which he served as general counsel, then as chairman, |
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before taking the reins as president and CEO in 1981; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelleher was a pioneer in adopting practices |
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never before seen in the industry, which established Southwest |
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Airlines as a titan among U.S. carriers and inspired a wave of |
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imitators of its affordable, no-frills model of air travel; his |
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business savvy and creativity helped Southwest remain profitable |
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for 45 straight years even as rival carriers staggered, and he |
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oversaw its expansion beyond the Texas triangle of Dallas, Houston, |
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and San Antonio to destinations throughout the country and beyond; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Famous for his energy and humor, Mr. Kelleher |
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embraced his role as the face of Southwest, even starring in |
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television commercials and other promotions; he felt strongly that |
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business success hinges on the happiness of workers, and he took |
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care to provide his workforce with personal attention and freedom |
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to express their individuality, while also supporting them with |
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such benefits as the industry's first employee profit-sharing |
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program; celebrated for its employee- and customer-centric |
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corporate culture, Southwest continues to top lists of the best |
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employers in the nation; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelleher retired as president and CEO in 2001 |
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and as chairman in 2008, but remained active in the company and |
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retained his office at Southwest's Love Field headquarters in |
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Dallas; he also served his community in various roles, including as |
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chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from |
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2011 to 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than 60 years, Mr. Kelleher shared his life |
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with his wife, Joan Kelleher; he was the proud father of four |
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children, Julie, Michael, Ruth, and David, and he was also |
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cherished by numerous grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, The legacy of Herb Kelleher looms large in the world |
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of air travel, where he demonstrated the vast potential for success |
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of a company based around shrewd business sense, nonconformity, and |
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respect and dignity for workers at all levels, and he will be |
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remembered with deep and lasting admiration by all who were |
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fortunate enough to call him a friend; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Herbert David |
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Kelleher and extend heartfelt sympathy to his loved ones and those |
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who join them in mourning his passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Herbert |
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David Kelleher. |