Herb Kelleher

Herbert D. Kelleher (born March 12, 1931) is the co-founder, and former chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines (based in the United States). Kelleher was born and raised in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, where he graduated from Haddon Heights High School. He has a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctor from New York University. At Wesleyan he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He is married to the former Joan Negl... more

Herbert D. Kelleher (born March 12, 1931) is the co-founder, and former chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines (based in the United States). Kelleher was born and raised in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, where he graduated from Haddon Heights High School. He has a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctor from New York University. At Wesleyan he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He is married to the former Joan Negley and they have four children. The Kellehers moved to Texas intending to start a law firm or a business. Legend has it that Kelleher and one of his law clients, Texas businessman Rollin King, created the concept that later became Southwest Airlines on a cocktail napkin in a San Antonio, Texas restaurant. From its birth in 1971 — after overcoming a year's worth of legal challenges from competitors who tried to keep it grounded — Southwest has succeeded by daring to be different: offering low fares to its passengers by eliminating unnecessary... less