Herb Kelleher

Founder and Executive Chairman Emeritus, Southwest Airlines Co.

Herb Kelleher, who turned conventional airline industry wisdom on its head by combining low fares with high standards of customer service to build Southwest Airlines into one of the nation’s most successful and admired companies, died on Thursday January 3 2019. He was 87. Herbert Dwight Kelleher was born on March 12, 1931, in Camden, N.J., to Harry and Ruth (Moore) Kelleher. His father was a general manager at a Campbell’s Soup factory. After attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut and later New York University Law School, Mr. Kelleher began his career as a lawyer. He married Joan Negley in 1955, and the couple had four children while living in New Jersey. His wife, three of their children and many grandchildren survive him. In 1967, one of Mr. Kelleher’s clients, Rollin W. King, approached him with what seemed an outlandish idea: starting an airline that could fly passengers cheaply within Texas. Mr. King, who died in 2014, believed that Mr. Kelleher was just crazy enough to sign on. Mr. Kelleher's net worth was estimated at $2.5 billion. has listed Southwest Airlines as number five among America’s Top Ten most admired corporations. 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; U. S. Master Entrepreneur, INC. magazine; CEO of the Decade-Airline Industry, Financial World magazine; Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy; Bower Award for Business Leadership, Franklin Institute; Smithsonian Aero Club Trophy; 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; and the Transportation Research Forum President’s Award. 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.

Relationships Interlocks Giving Data

Donors to Common Recipients

Recipients of donations from Herb Kelleher also received donations from these orgs and people

Donor	Common Recipients
Bernard Rapoport	Don Riegle, Bob Kerrey, Norman Y Mineta, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Raymond Eugene Green, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Jim Oberstar, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Ken Bentsen, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, Dale Bumpers, John Glenn, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, William Lehman, Lloyd M Bentsen, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Democratic Party of Texas, Robert Krueger, David L Boren
Lindsay D Hooper	Don Riegle, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, John Cornyn, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Ralph Moody Hall, Sam Johnson, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Tom Delay, John D Hayworth Jr, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, James Jarrell Pickle, Daniel David Rostenkowski, Bill Archer, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Bob Graham, George H W Bush, Jon Kyl, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln, David L Boren
Annette C Simmons	Joe Barton, Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Raymond Eugene Green, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sam Johnson, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Don Nickles, Charles Walter Stenholm, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Larry Pressler, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Freedom Works PAC, Jon Kyl, Jerry D Rucker, Chuck Hagel
Harold Simmons	Joe Barton, John Cornyn, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Kay Granger, Raymond Eugene Green, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sam Johnson, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Solomon Porfirio Ortiz, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Don Nickles, Charles Walter Stenholm, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, Jon Lynn Christensen, John Wiley Bryant, Larry Pressler, Steve Bartlett, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Freedom Works PAC, Jon Kyl, David L Boren
Leon Black	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Lindsey Graham, Jim Inhofe, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Howell Thomas Heflin, Larry Pressler, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, George E Pataki, Richard W Fisher, NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee, Blanche L Lincoln
Donald Diamond	Bob Kerrey, Robert Bennett, Jeff Bingaman, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jim Oberstar, Edward López Pastor, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, John D Hayworth Jr, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Don Nickles, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Howell Thomas Heflin, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, Dennis Deconcini, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, George H W Bush, Jon Kyl, Bob Carr, Arizona Grassroots Action
Roselyne Chroman Swig	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Robert Bennett, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Raymond Eugene Green, Jane Harman, Jim Inhofe, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Don Nickles, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Howell Thomas Heflin, Bob Packwood, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Jon Kyl, Charles Wilson, Blanche L Lincoln
Bernice Manocherian	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Don Nickles, John Ashcroft, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Howell Thomas Heflin, Gregory H Laughlin, Bob Packwood, Dave McCurdy, Robert Jan Mrazek, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, George E Pataki, Robert Krueger, Ted Stevens, Blanche L Lincoln
James Massie	Bob Kerrey, Robert Aderholt, Joe Barton, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Raymond Eugene Green, Ralph Moody Hall, Sam Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, William Shuster, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, John D Hayworth Jr, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Charles Walter Stenholm, Jim Turner, Charles Spittal Robb, Jim Chapman, Larry Combest, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Blanche L Lincoln
Robert H Asher	Robert Bennett, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jack Reed, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Howell Thomas Heflin, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, Dennis Deconcini, Daniel David Rostenkowski, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic National Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Jon Kyl, Ted Stevens, David L Boren
J McDonald Williams	Bob Kerrey, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Lloyd Doggett, Thomas Chester Edwards, Ralph Moody Hall, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, John McCain, Jack Reed, Richard Shelby, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Ken Bentsen, Phil Gramm, John Wiley Bryant, Jim Chapman, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Dennis Deconcini, Dave McCurdy, Steve Bartlett, Robert Jan Mrazek, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Freedom Works PAC, Democratic Party of Texas, George H W Bush, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson, Jerry D Rucker, Richard W Fisher, Preston M Geren III, David L Boren
Daniel C Tate Jr	Ronald Kirk, Norman Y Mineta, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Jim Oberstar, Edward López Pastor, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Jim Turner, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, Daniel David Rostenkowski, William Lipinski, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Robert Krueger, Jim Exon, Ted Stevens, Blanche L Lincoln
Erle Nye	Ronald Kirk, Joe Barton, John Cornyn, Thomas Chester Edwards, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Raymond Eugene Green, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sam Johnson, Mary Landrieu, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, Martin Frost, Max A Sandlin, Charles Walter Stenholm, Jim Turner, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, John Wiley Bryant, Gregory H Laughlin, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, George H W Bush, Richard W Fisher, Preston M Geren III, Thomas C Leppert
Gary Winnick	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Chris Dodd, Lindsey Graham, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Don Nickles, Richard H Bryan, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, Dave McCurdy, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, George H W Bush, Robert Krueger
David Bonderman	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Lloyd Doggett, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Raymond Eugene Green, Jane Harman, Jeb Hensarling, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Ron Wyden, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Charles Spittal Robb, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Eric Peter Serna, Bob Carr, Preston M Geren III, Thomas C Leppert, Blanche L Lincoln, Arizona Grassroots Action
Robert Mazer	Don Riegle, Robert Aderholt, Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Jennifer Blackburn Dunn, Martin Frost, Don Nickles, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, David McIntosh, Charles Spittal Robb, Howell Thomas Heflin, Gregory H Laughlin, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, Robert Jan Mrazek, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Jon Kyl, Charles Wilson, Ted Stevens, David L Boren
Stanley S. Hubbard	Bob Kerrey, Robert Bennett, Jeff Bingaman, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jim Oberstar, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Daschle, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, John Wiley Bryant, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, Daniel David Rostenkowski, Bill Archer, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Freedom Works PAC
Audre Rapoport	Don Riegle, Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Ken Bentsen, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, Dale Bumpers, John Glenn, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Dave McCurdy, James Jarrell Pickle, Craig Anthony Washington, Jim Wright, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Robert Krueger, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln
Robert E Glennon	Don Riegle, Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Lloyd Doggett, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Kay Granger, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Sam Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John D Hayworth Jr, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Phil Gramm, David McIntosh, Charles Spittal Robb, Bob Packwood, James Jarrell Pickle, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln, David L Boren
Robert McNair	Don Riegle, Joe Barton, Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Raymond Eugene Green, Ralph Moody Hall, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Ron Wyden, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Don Nickles, Dick Armey, Ken Bentsen, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Dale Bumpers, Jack Milton Fields Jr, Gregory H Laughlin, Bill Archer, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Wayne Parker Jr, George H W Bush, George E Pataki, Jon Kyl, Chuck Hagel

Updated almost 2 years ago

Types	Person, Lobbyist
Gender	Male
Birthday	Mar 12 '31
Date of death	Jan 3 '19
Aliases	Herbert D Kelleher

Wikipedia: Herb_Kelleher

Herb Kelleher

Founder and Executive Chairman Emeritus, Southwest Airlines Co.

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