Herbert D. Kelleher
Founder and Chairman Emeritus
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Herb Kelleher is a Founder of Southwest Airlines Co. and served as Executive Chairman from March 1978 to May 2008 and as President and CEO from September 1981 through June 2001. The above information remains current as to office address; phone numbers; etc. Southwest commenced service with three airplanes in 1971 and in May of 2008, when Kelleher stepped down as Executive Chairman, Southwest operated a fleet of more than 527 airplanes and performed more than 3,400 flights per day. Kelleher’s Company has been profitable for 38 consecutive years; has never furloughed an Employee; and today carries the most originating domestic passengers of any U.S. airline. The Fall 2002 edition of Money magazine revealed that, during the 30-year period 1972-2002, Southwest produced the highest return to shareholders of any company included in the S&P 500 during that 30-year period: $10,000 invested in Southwest in 1972 was worth $10,200,000 in 2002 (an average increase of 25.99% per year). For the 13th year in a row, FORTUNE magazine recognized Southwest Airlines in its 2009 annual survey of corporate reputations. Southwest Airlines is the only airline to make Fortune’s top 10 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Kelleher himself has received numerous awards and honors, including the U. S. Chamber Business Leadership Hall of Fame; CEO of the Year and one of history’s top three CEOs, Chief Executive magazine; CEO of the Century, Texas Monthly magazine; National Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame; CEO of the Decade-Airline Industry; Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy; Bower Award for Business Leadership, Franklin Institute; Tony Jannus Award; Wings Club Distinguished Achievement Award; San Diego Aerospace Hall of Fame; L. Welch Pogue Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aviation, Aviation Week; Airline Business Award, Airline Business magazine; 2005 Global Services Leader Award; History Making Texan Award; the Business Halls of Fame of the State of Texas, the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and the City of Dallas; the Herbert D. Kelleher Servant Leader Scholarship, named in Herb’s honor by the Austin Business Travel Association; induction into the Texas Labor Management Hall of Fame; Transportation Research Forum President’s Award; induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame; induction into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine, Wright Brothers National Memorial; recipient of the Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Public Service Medal; an honorary lifetime member of the Transport Workers Union; recipient of full page USA Today "Thank You Herb!" ad from Southwest’s Pilots union; inducted into the AAF Tenth District Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame; the Joseph T. Nall Safety Award, NTSB Bar Association; the Murphy Award for Lifetime Achievement, University of North Texas; Ronald McDonald House Charities Award of Excellence; inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame, and, most recently, inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame and the Entrepreneurs For North Texas’ Ring of Entrepreneurs. Kelleher graduated with honors from Wesleyan University, where he was an Olin Scholar and where his major was English and his minor Philosophy, and from NYU Law School, where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar. |
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Business Awards and Honors National and International American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame (2011) Advertising Hall of Fame (2011) Ronald McDonald House Charities "Award of Excellence" (2010) Joseph T. Nall Safety Award (2010) Induction into the AAF Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame (2010) Man of the Year Award, Reno Air Race Association (2009) Higher Power Values Award, Higher Power Aviation (2009) Steve Fossett Innovation Award (2009) Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Public Service Medal (2009) The Transport Workers Union National President Jim Little announced on behalf of local TWU 550, 555, and 556 that, in an unprecedented action, Herb Kelleher was now an honorary lifetime member of the TWU "In grateful appreciation for [his] unparalleled Leadership in creating a magnificent airline and a generation of Employees who love coming to work." (December 2008) Inducted in to the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine, Wright Brothers National Memorial (2008) National Aviation Hall of Fame (2008) Transportation Research Forum President's Award (2008) Global Services Leader of the Year Award (2005) Airline Business Award (2005) One of history's top three CEO's by Chief Executive Magazine (2005) L. Welch Pogue Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aviation, Aviation Week (2005) 25 Most Influential Business Leaders (2004) Top 100 Stars in Aerospace, Aviation Week (2003) Bower Award for Business Leadership from the Franklin Institute (2003) U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Hall of Fame (2002) San Diego Aerospace Hall of Fame (2002) Morningstar CEO of the Year Award (2001) One of the Top 25 Most Influential People in the Business Travel Industry, Business Travel News (2001) Travel Agent's 2001 Airlines Winner's Circle (2001) Top 25 Managers of the Year (2001) People of the Year, Travel Agent Magazine (2000) Soaring Eagle Award, Board of Port Commissioners and Executive Director of Port of Oakland (2000) Entrepreneur of the Year (2000) Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy (2000) Readers Choice Quest for Quality Award, Logistics Management and Distribution Report Magazine One of the Most Admired Companies in America (6 of 10): Fortune Magazine (1999) CEO of the Year, Chief Executive Magazine (1999) CEO of the Century, Texas Monthly magazine (1999) American Society of Safety Engineers (Honorary Member - 1999) One of "Most Trusted" U.S. companies, Marketing Management magazine (1999) Most Admired Companies in the World (No. 13), Fortune Magazine (1998) Airlines Person of the Year, Travel Agent Magazine (1998) Induction into the National Sales & Marketing Hall of Fame-National Alliance of Sales & Marketing Executives (1998) Executive of the Year: University of Arizona (1998) The Best Company to Work for in America (No. 1): Fortune Magazine (1998) One of the Most Admired Companies in America (1 of 10): Fortune Magazine (1998) The Most Admired Airline in America (No. 1): Fortune Magazine (1994-1998) National Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame (1998) Chilton Co.'s Quest of Quality-transportation industry award (1997) The 431 Best-America's Most Admired Companies (No. 45): Fortune Magazine (1997) 16th Annual Patterson Transportation Lecture, Northwestern University (1997) Golden Eagle Award: Senior Aerospace Executives (1997) DKE President's Award for Outstanding Achievement (1997) "People of the Year" Winners Circle Travel Agent Magazine (1997) PGE Award of "Families in Good Company" (1997) Most Consumer-Friendly Airline: Consumer Reports Travel Letter (1997) Annual Business Leadership Award University of Michigan School of Business (1997) Philip Crosby Award for National Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership: University of Tulsa (1997) Wings Club Distinguished Achievement Award (1997) Airport Consultants Council Aviation Award of Excellence (1996) Golden Plate Award: American Academy of Achievement (1996) Outstanding Business Leader Award: Northwood University (1996) Spirit of St. Louis Award: St. Louis Chamber of Commerce & Growth Association (1996) Silver Place Award: Lodging Hospitality (1995) One of three "Most Influential Executives" in travel industry: Tour and Travel News (1995) One of America's Most Admired CEO's: Industry Week Magazine (1995) "Is Herb Kelleher America's Best CEO?": Fortune Magazine (1994-95) One of "People of the Year": Travel Agent Magazine (1994-95) State and Local Inducted into the Entrepreneurs For North Texas’ Ring of Entrepreneurs (2011) Murphy Award for Lifetime Achievement, University of North Texas (2010) Texas Lutheran University Excellence in Leadership Award (2009) History Making Texan Award (2007) Induction into the Texas Labor Management Hall of Fame (2006) Herbert D. Kelleher Servant Leader Scholarship named in Herb's honor by the Austin Business Travel Association (2006) Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey (1999) Spirit of Generations Award, Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas (1999) Junior Achievement's Dallas Business Hall of Fame (1999) Distinguished President award, Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter, American Women in Radio and Television (1999) Access Award, Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities (1999) Texas Aviation Hall of Fame (1998) Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Harvard Business School Association of Southeastern New England (1998) The Dallas Area Distinguished Leader Award: Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce (1998) Business of the Year Award: The BWI Business Partnership, Inc. (1998) Community Award, Southwest Alliance for the Mentally Ill (1998) Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic Community Service Award (1998) Citizen of the Year: Southwest Community Congress (Chicago) (1997) Best Domestic Airline: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (1997) Tate Distinguished Lecture Series, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas (first local resident in 14 years) (1996) Industry of the Year Award: Houston Chamber of Commerce (1996) Best Boss; Best Luncheon Speaker; and Best Company to Work for: Dallas Business Journal (1995) Leon Tolle Memorial Award: San Antonio Chapter of American Marketing Assn. (1995) Oklahoma Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor (first out-of-state inductee) 1995) Governor's Tourism Development Award: Nevada (1995) Headliner of the Year: Gridiron Show, Press Club of Dallas (1995) Circle of Love Award: New Orleans Ronald McDonald House (1995) Barbara Jordan Award: Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (1995) Contribution to Aviation Award: Texas Dept. of Transportation (1995) |
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Education Graduate New York University, LL.B. - 1956, (with honors) (New York University Law Review 1955-1956, Root-Tilden Scholar) Clerk, Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1957-1959 Undergraduate Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., B.A. (with honors) (Olin Scholar; Student Body President; Literary Editor of Yearbook; Outstanding Undergraduate and Athlete Awards) |
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Personal Background Born March 12, 1931; married to Joan Negley; four children: Julie, Michael, Ruth and David, and nine grandchildren |
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Business and Civic Affiliations
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