FORT WORTH, TEXAS - The airline business is full of legendary figures, from Charles Lindbergh to Richard Branson.
But few are as revered as Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher, who is renowned not just for his larger-than-life persona, but also for building what most consider the most successful airline of modern times.
Kelleher, 77, will step down as Southwest's chairman on Wednesday after the airline's annual shareholders meeting at Southwest's headquarters next to Dallas Love Field. Although he won't stop working for the airline, he will no longer be heavily involved in the company's strategy and operations. Chief Executive Gary Kelly will take over as chairman.
Much of Kelleher's notoriety comes from his oft-stated love for Wild Turkey bourbon, his chain-smoking (even while presiding over company meetings), and his headline-grabbing antics like arm-wrestling Kurt Herwald, chairman of Stevens Aviation, at the Dallas Sportatorium for the right to the slogan "Just Plane Smart."
But he's also respected for building a formidable low-cost business model that revolutionized the airline industry with no-frills service at cheap prices. And he helped create Southwest's famous corporate culture that focuses on employees, with the theory that happy employees will lead to satisfied customers and investors.
Southwest is the only major airline that has been consistently profitable for more than three decades, a rare thing in an industry known for its harsh boom-and-bust cycles.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram interviewed Kelleher this week about his four decades at Southwest:
Q How do you think industry consolidation could affect Southwest?
