TITLE: In memory of Herbert David Kelleher.

SUMMARY: In memory of Herbert David Kelleher.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of Herbert David Kelleher, who died January 3, 2019, at the age of 87; and WHEREAS, Herb Kelleher was a treasured Texas citizen with a larger-than-life personality; he was also a savvy entrepreneur whose foresight, shrewd business sense, and flair for unique and engaging marketing strategies helped launch an airline that revolutionized air travel in the United States; and WHEREAS, Herb Kelleher was born on March 12, 1931, in Camden, New Jersey; he graduated from Haddon Heights High School in Audubon and earned a degree from Wesleyan University, where he was an Olin Scholar; he earned his law degree from New York University, and he practiced law on the East Coast for a time before moving to Texas to establish his own law firm; and WHEREAS, In 1967, Mr. Kelleher and his client, Rollin King, created Air Southwest, Incorporated, with the idea of instituting low-fare airline service within Texas; after a name change and numerous legal battles, Southwest Airlines began service on June 18, 1971; Herb served as the company's legal counsel, and later, as its president, chief executive officer, and chairman; and WHEREAS, Due to Herb's vision and leadership, Southwest Airlines grew from a carrier with only three airplanes to become one of the largest airlines in the country; by 2008, the airline operated with a fleet of more than 500 airplanes that completed more than 3,400 flights each day; between 1972 and 2002, the company produced the highest return to shareholders of any company listed in the Standard and Poor's 500 during that period; and WHEREAS, Herb Kelleher became the public face of the airline through his colorful appearances at events and on a variety of television commercials; he played a major role in cultivating the company's stimulating and friendly work environment and was beloved by the airline's employees, and in 1998, Fortune magazine named Southwest Airlines the Best Place to Work in America; it remains the only airline named to the magazine's top 10 list of the World's Most Admired Companies; and WHEREAS, Herb received countless awards over the course of his career and was inducted into the United States Chamber Business Leadership Hall of Fame and the National Aviation Hall of Fame; he stepped down as the airline's president and chief executive officer in 2001, and he retired as chairman in 2008; and WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband to his wife of 64 years, Joan Negley Kelleher, a loving father to his four children, Michael Kelleher, Ruth Agather, David Kelleher, and the late Julie Stacey, and a doting grandfather to his nine grandchildren, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured forever by all who were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Herbert David Kelleher; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Herb Kelleher. West Alvarado Hinojosa Paxton Bettencourt Huffman Perry Birdwell Hughes Powell Buckingham Johnson Rodr guez Campbell Kolkhorst Schwertner Creighton Lucio Seliger Fallon Men ndez Taylor Flores Miles Watson Hall Nelson Whitmire Hancock Nichols Zaffirini Patrick, President of the Senate President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 16, 2019, by a rising vote.