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Voices of San Antonio

In his own words - Kelleher, Herbert

Herbert D. (Herb) Kelleher (1931-2019), co-founder and former CEO of Southwest Airlines, was born in Camden, New Jersey but moved his family to Texas in the 1960's in order to start a law practice. He designed the concept for the airlines with Rollin King and banker John Parker on the back of a cocktail napkin in a San Antonio restaurant.  On June 18, 1971, after four and a half years of litigation with other airline companies, the first Southwest flight took off from Dallas to San Antonio. Since then Southwest has seen its business grow with each passing year.  Kelleher views the success of Southwest as being directly related to the company's culture and the importance placed on employees.