# Herb Kelleher

> Herb Kelleher (1931-2019) was the American lawyer and Southwest Airlines co-founder who defended the carrier through its early legal battles, served as chairman from 1978 to 2008 and president and CEO from 1981 to 2001, and became known for employee-centered leadership and theatrical humor.

- **Role:** Historical: Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus at Southwest Airlines (died 2019)
- **Organizations:** Southwest Airlines, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
- **From:** Camden, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in English; minor in philosophy, Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Laws, New York University School of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded Southwest Airlines and represented it in the legal battles preceding its 1971 launch., Led Southwest as president and CEO from 1981 to 2001 and chairman from 1978 to 2008., Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008.

## Career timeline

- **1967** — Co-founded Air Southwest with Rollin King.
- **1971** — Southwest began scheduled service on June 18 after legal challenges.
- **1978** — Became chairman of Southwest Airlines.
- **1981** — Became president and CEO; served until June 2001.
- **1992** — Participated in Malice in Dallas with Stevens Aviation CEO Kurt Herwald.
- **2008** — Stepped down as chairman, became chairman emeritus, and entered the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
- **2010** — Appointed chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas board.
- **2014** — A road leading to Dallas Love Field was renamed Herb Kelleher Way.
- **2019** — Died on January 3, aged 87.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Southwest Airlines and represented it in the legal battles preceding its 1971 launch.
- Led Southwest as president and CEO from 1981 to 2001 and chairman from 1978 to 2008.
- Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Southwest had 35 consecutive profitable years as of 2008.
- Herb Kelleher Way at Dallas Love Field was named in his honor in 2014.

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — Southwest announced approximately 1,750 role eliminations concentrated in corporate overhead and leadership, describing the decision as unprecedented in its history. This is posthumous company context, not an action by Kelleher.
- **2019-01** — Southwest announced Kelleher’s death on January 3, aged 87.

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/herb-kelleher
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23