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
Herman Sarkowsky	Robert Bennett, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Delay, Jennifer Blackburn Dunn, Martin Frost, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Charles Spittal Robb, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, George W Bush, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Freedom Works PAC, George H W Bush, Jon Kyl, Ted Stevens
Lew Wasserman	Bob Kerrey, Chris Dodd, Jane Harman, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Ken Bentsen, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, Dale Bumpers, Wendell Hampton Ford, Jack Milton Fields Jr, Howell Thomas Heflin, Bob Packwood, Jack Bascom Brooks, Daniel David Rostenkowski, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Eric Peter Serna, Robert Krueger, David L Boren
Martin A Russo	Don Riegle, Bob Kerrey, Norman Y Mineta, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Lloyd Doggett, Byron Dorgan, John J Duncan Jr, Thomas Chester Edwards, Jane Harman, Jim Oberstar, Edward López Pastor, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Max A Sandlin, Charles Spittal Robb, Jack Milton Fields Jr, Dennis Deconcini, Daniel David Rostenkowski, William Lipinski, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bud Shuster, Bob Carr, Ted Stevens, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln
Donald G Fisher	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, John Cornyn, Chris Dodd, John Ensign, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Charles Rangel, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Don Nickles, Bob Packwood, Dave McCurdy, Daniel David Rostenkowski, 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, Bob Graham, George H W Bush, Blanche L Lincoln
John A Merrigan	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Richard H Bryan, John Wiley Bryant, William Lipinski, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Bob Graham, Bob Carr, Blanche L Lincoln
Trammell Crow	Joe Barton, John Cornyn, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Kay Granger, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sam Johnson, Joe Lieberman, Jim Oberstar, Bill Frist, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Charles Walter Stenholm, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Larry Pressler, 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, Freedom Works PAC, George H W Bush, Jerry D Rucker, Richard W Fisher
Gerald S J Cassidy	Norman Y Mineta, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Jane Harman, Jim Oberstar, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Jack Bascom Brooks, Daniel David Rostenkowski, William Lehman, Robert Jan Mrazek, William Lipinski, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Eric Peter Serna, Bob Carr, Preston M Geren III, Blanche L Lincoln
Red McCombs	Joe Barton, John Cornyn, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Henry Bonilla, John Breaux, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Frank Mariano Tejeda, Ronald D'Emory Coleman, Gregory H Laughlin, Larry Pressler, Jim Wright, 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, George H W Bush, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson, Jeff Wentworth
Sam Fox	Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Inhofe, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, Bob Packwood, Larry Pressler, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic National Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, George H W Bush, George Pataki, Jon Kyl, Ted Stevens, Arizona Grassroots Action
Nina Rosenwald	Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Charles Spittal Robb, Bob Packwood, Dennis Deconcini, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, George Pataki, Jon Kyl, Blanche L Lincoln
Tony Podesta	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Edward López Pastor, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Phil Gramm, Richard H Bryan, Dave McCurdy, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Carr, Blanche L Lincoln
Harriet Zimmerman	Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Mitch McConnell, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, Bill Frist, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Don Nickles, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, Wendell Hampton Ford, John Glenn, Dave McCurdy, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Jim Exon, Blanche L Lincoln
David Geffen	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Jane Harman, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Richard H Bryan, Charles Spittal Robb, John Glenn, Bob Packwood, Dennis Deconcini, Robert Jan Mrazek, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Bob Carr, Robert Krueger
Richard W Weekley	Joe Barton, Robert Bennett, John Cornyn, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Jeb Hensarling, Kay Bailey Hutchison, John McCain, Michael T McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Henry Bonilla, Tom Delay, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, John Ashcroft, Slade Gorton, David McIntosh, Jon Lynn Christensen, Jack Milton Fields Jr, Bill Archer, Lloyd M Bentsen, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, George H W Bush, George Pataki, Jon Kyl, Chuck Hagel
Maurice Tempelsman	Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Jane Harman, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Charles Rangel, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Charles Spittal Robb, Wendell Hampton Ford, John Glenn, Dennis Deconcini, Dave McCurdy, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Bob Graham, Robert Krueger, David L Boren
Michael B Levy	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Thomas Chester Edwards, John Ensign, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Charles Walter Stenholm, Ken Bentsen, Richard H Bryan, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Bob Graham, Eric Peter Serna
Madeleine Arison	Bob Kerrey, Joe Barton, Maria Cantwell, Byron Dorgan, John J Duncan Jr, John Ensign, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Jim Oberstar, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, William Shuster, Arlen Specter, Henry Bonilla, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Jack Milton Fields Jr, Larry Pressler, Daniel David Rostenkowski, George W Bush, National Republican Congressional Committee, Straight Talk America, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Bob Graham, Bud Shuster, Ted Stevens
William C Rudin	Bob Kerrey, Chris Dodd, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Paul Ryan, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Richard H Bryan, Larry Pressler, Daniel David Rostenkowski, 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, Democratic Party of Texas, George H W Bush, George Pataki, Jon Kyl, NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee, Blanche L Lincoln
Russell Budd	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Maria Cantwell, Lloyd Doggett, Thomas Chester Edwards, Lindsey Graham, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, John McCain, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Martin Frost, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Max A Sandlin, Charles Spittal Robb, John Wiley Bryant, George W Bush, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, DNC-Non-Federal Individual, Carol Moseley Braun, Democratic Party of Texas, Robert Krueger, Charles Wilson
Michael A Feiner	Ronald Kirk, Bob Kerrey, Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Chris Dodd, Joe Donnelly, Byron Dorgan, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jim Oberstar, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ron Wyden, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dick Gephardt, Ernest Frederick Hollings, Charles Spittal Robb, Bob Packwood, Dave McCurdy, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Carol Moseley Braun, Jon Kyl

Types	Person, Lobbyist
Aliases	Herbert D Kelleher

Herb Kelleher

Founder and Executive Chairman Emeritus, Southwest Airlines Co.

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