Southwest Airlines Chairman Begins Medical Treatment

Southwest Airlines announced that Herb Kelleher, its chairman, president, and CEO, will begin radiation treatment today for prostate cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Kelleher will receive brief treatments each weekday for approximately eight weeks.

Kelleher's course of treatment was recommended by Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who is managing Kelleher's medical case. Dr. von Eschenbach is Director of the Multidisciplinary Prostate Cancer Program and holder of the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair in Urologic Oncology.

The cancer was found during a routine annual prostate examination, and Kelleher was then given an extensive and exhaustive series of tests and examinations, which produced a "clean bill of health," except for the prostate cancer itself.

Dr. von Eschenbach states, "Herb is a shining example of the value and benefits of regular examinations and tests for the existence of prostate cancer. Because of his adherence to a regular examination and testing regime, his prostate cancer was discovered at a relatively early and fairly mild stage of development. We are taking the appropriate and medically indicated steps in the full expectation that Herb will continue to lead a fully active and productive life just as if he had never had prostate cancer."

Kelleher will be in his office every morning and early afternoon during the course of his treatment and quipped, "It would be my guess that our officer group is probably somewhat disappointed that I will be in my office more than normal during the treatment period, since ordinarily I travel several days per week."

Kelleher, 68, co-founded Southwest Airlines in 1971, was named chairman in 1978, and assumed the titles of president and CEO in 1981. Last month, Kelleher was named "Chief Executive of the Year" by Chief Executive magazine.

Southwest Airlines, now the nation's fourth largest carrier in terms of Customer boardings, serves 54 cities in 28 states. The airline currently has more than 28,000 Employees and operates more than 2,450 flights a day.

www.southwest.com