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HERB KELLEHER
An Unforgettable Leader & Visionary
W
ith the passing of Herb Kelleher, we lost a true visionary who made
a lasting impact on our community and all those he touched.
This sentiment is echoed by his friend Hudson B. Drake, a local
aeronautics pioneer who shared his fond memories with Giving
Back Magazine, “I knew Herb Kelleher since 1990 when he
joined the Conquistadores del Cielo. The Conquistadores, which began in 1938, is
the cream of aerospace and airline leadership worldwide. Herb’s efforts to start
Southwest Airlines and challenge the major carriers was indeed herculean in
scale. He persisted for years and fought off numerous attempts to smother his
dream. Southwest today is a superb example of what a person can achieve
through pure commitment and hard work. The airline grew from a San Antonio,
Dallas, Houston, Texas carrier to its role today as the largest
airline in the U.S. It has always been profitable... a rare thing
in the airline world! Well done Herb.”
The Southwest co-founder had a reputation for being
classically cool and a purveyor of fun. This attitude was
a major component in what defined Southwest Airlines
and skyrocketed them to success. His beliefs in the
value of appreciating employees and customers were
also groundbreaking and critical in helping the company
maintain their position as a domestic airline leader.
However, the early years were a bit
of a rough start. Herb and his
business partner, Rollin W.
King, faced unyielding
resistance from
competitors. With faith
in their vision and
Herb as their litigator,
they persisted. In
1971, they saw their
first flight starting
with routes only in
Hudson Drake speaking
Texas, but by 1982,
about the Conquistadores
del Cielo
they expanded
to nearly half of
the states. By sticking to
their core values of efficiency and a positive
company culture, Southwest Airlines has
been able to sustain growth from then on.
90 GBSAN.COM | MARCH 2019