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
J Steven Hart	Robert Aderholt, John Cornyn, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Jeb Hensarling, Jim Inhofe, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Tom Daschle, Jennifer Blackburn Dunn, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, David McIntosh, Jack Milton Fields Jr, Gregory H Laughlin, Bob Packwood, Dave McCurdy, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, George H W Bush, Jon Kyl, Bob Carr, Chuck Hagel, David L Boren
Lionel Kaplan	Robert Bennett, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Dick Armey, John Ashcroft, Richard H Bryan, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Gregory H Laughlin, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Jon Kyl, Charles Wilson, Ted Stevens
Michael S Smith	Bob Kerrey, Robert Bennett, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, John Ensign, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, William Shuster, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Bob Packwood, Dave McCurdy, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Bob Graham, Jon Kyl, Robert Krueger, Blanche L Lincoln
Leonard A Lauder	Bob Kerrey, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, John Ensign, Jane Harman, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Larry Pressler, Jack Bascom Brooks, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, George H W Bush, George E Pataki, NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee, David L Boren
Gerald J Ford	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, John Cornyn, Thomas Chester Edwards, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Breaux, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, Wendell Hampton Ford, Jack Bascom Brooks, Steve Bartlett, Lloyd M Bentsen, Larry Combest, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson, Richard W Fisher, Preston M Geren III, David L Boren
Wayne L Berman	Robert Aderholt, Joe Barton, Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Sam Johnson, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, William Shuster, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, George H W Bush, George E Pataki, Jon Kyl, Chuck Hagel, NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee
Frank Branson	Bob Kerrey, Maria Cantwell, Thomas Chester Edwards, Kay Granger, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Jim Turner, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, John Wiley Bryant, Jim Chapman, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Howell Thomas Heflin, Gregory H Laughlin, Jack Bascom Brooks, Craig Anthony Washington, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Democratic Party of Texas, Bob Carr, Robert Krueger, Blanche L Lincoln
Charles J Wyly Jr	Joe Barton, John Cornyn, John Ensign, Kay Granger, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Sam Johnson, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Don Nickles, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Steve Bartlett, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Freedom Works PAC, George H W Bush, George E Pataki, Jerry D Rucker, Jeff Wentworth
Kenneth J Bialkin	Bob Kerrey, John Cornyn, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Lindsey Graham, Jim Inhofe, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Phil Gramm, Charles Spittal Robb, Howell Thomas Heflin, Bob Packwood, Dennis Deconcini, Robert Jan Mrazek, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic National Committee, Bob Graham, George H W Bush, George E Pataki, Jon Kyl, Ted Stevens, NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee
Nicholas Calio	Robert Aderholt, Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, John Ensign, Kay Granger, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, William Shuster, Tom Delay, John D Hayworth Jr, Don Nickles, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, David McIntosh, Larry Pressler, Daniel David Rostenkowski, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Freedom Works PAC, Air Transportation Association of America PAC, Wayne Parker Jr, George H W Bush, Jon Kyl, Chuck Hagel
Charles Butt	John Cornyn, Thomas Chester Edwards, Raymond Eugene Green, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Sam Johnson, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Solomon Porfirio Ortiz, Charles Rangel, Paul Ryan, Henry Bonilla, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Max A Sandlin, Charles Walter Stenholm, Jim Turner, Phil Gramm, Frank Mariano Tejeda, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Gregory H Laughlin, Jack Bascom Brooks, James Jarrell Pickle, Bill Archer, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, George H W Bush, Albert G Bustamante, Jeff Wentworth, Richard W Fisher
Albert Galatyn Hill Jr	Joe Barton, John Cornyn, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Sam Johnson, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, William Shuster, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, John D Hayworth Jr, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Jon Lynn Christensen, Steve Bartlett, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Freedom Works PAC, George H W Bush, Jon Kyl, Jerry D Rucker, Thomas C Leppert
George D Baker	Robert Aderholt, Joe Barton, John Cornyn, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Ralph Moody Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Jim Inhofe, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Tom Daschle, Don Nickles, Charles Walter Stenholm, Phil Gramm, Richard H Bryan, David McIntosh, Dale Bumpers, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Gregory H Laughlin, Dave McCurdy, Robert Jan Mrazek, Larry Combest, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln, David L Boren
Lewis Rudin	Don Riegle, Bob Kerrey, Chris Dodd, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Phil Gramm, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Howell Thomas Heflin, Larry Pressler, Daniel David Rostenkowski, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, George H W Bush, George E Pataki, Bob Carr, Robert Krueger, Ted Stevens, NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee
Arthur Louis Schechter	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Chris Dodd, Lloyd Doggett, Thomas Chester Edwards, Raymond Eugene Green, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Jim Turner, Ken Bentsen, Charles Spittal Robb, Jim Chapman, Bob Packwood, Craig Anthony Washington, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Democratic Party of Texas, Bob Carr, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson
Marc Rowan	Bob Kerrey, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Jane Harman, Jim Inhofe, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Phil Gramm, George W Bush, New Republican Majority Fund, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Blanche L Lincoln
Bennett S Lebow	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, 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, Don Nickles, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Wendell Hampton Ford, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, Lloyd M Bentsen, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Bob Graham, Jim Exon, Blanche L Lincoln
Jess T Hay	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Chris Dodd, Thomas Chester Edwards, Ralph Moody Hall, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Carl Levin, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Charles Walter Stenholm, Jim Turner, Ken Bentsen, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, John Wiley Bryant, Jim Chapman, Dave McCurdy, Lloyd M Bentsen, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Democratic Party of Texas, Robert Krueger, Richard W Fisher, Blanche L Lincoln, David L Boren
Ron Ricks	Ronald Kirk, Joe Barton, Jeff Bingaman, Kay Granger, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Sam Johnson, Mary Landrieu, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jim Oberstar, Edward López Pastor, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Dick Gephardt, Max A Sandlin, Richard H Bryan, Jim Chapman, Larry Pressler, Steve Bartlett, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Southwest Airlines Co Freedom Fund, Air Transportation Association of America PAC, Jon Kyl, Bob Carr, Robert Krueger, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln
Fred Baron	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Maria Cantwell, Lloyd Doggett, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Lindsey Graham, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, John Wiley Bryant, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Howell Thomas Heflin, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Democratic Party of Texas, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson

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.

Basic Info

External Links

Source Links

Lists