Delta Kappa Epsilon - Wesleyan University

The Deke Newsletter 3 S hortly aer the turn of the new year, news quickly spread that on January 3 Southwest Airlines Co-Founder Herb Kelleher '53 had passed away. To so many, he was a pioneer of af- fordable air travel. To Dekes, he was one of us. Born March 12, 1931, Herb grew up in Audubon, New Jersey, and graduated from Haddon Heights High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University, where he was an Olin Scholar, major- ing in English with a minor in philosophy. While at Wesleyan, Herb served as the president of the student body and excelled in numerous sports, and it was there that he met and fell in love with Joan Negley, who was attending Connecticut College at the time. Following graduation, Herb and Joan married and lived in New York while Herb attended law school at New York Univer- sity, where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar. "Hundreds of millions of Americans likely owe their first flight to the era of affordable air travel that Herb and Rollin King helped launch in the late 1960s on a cocktail napkin in a San Anto- nio hotel bar. He oversaw and personally fought numerous legal battles instigated by competitors who tried to ground the very idea of Southwest Airlines before its first flights took off in 1971 with a fleet of just three airplanes. rough de- cades of challenges and growth, Herb's infectious personality motivated the airline's employees to build brand loyalty in customers that bolstered one of the world's most admired companies with decades of consistent profitability. And the origi- nal Texas triangle of destinations on that cock- tail napkin remains at the heart of nearly 90 U.S. destinations served by what is the now largest airline in the United States. e successful and magic mix of making flying both fun and reli- able can be traced directly back to Herb's larger than life personality that shaped and galvanized a workforce around the gold standard of custom- er service in air travel by institutionalizing e Golden Rule." (http://porterloring.tributes.com/ obituary/show/Herb-Kelleher-106716757) Herb served as Southwest Airlines executive chairman from March 1978 to May 2008 and as president and CEO from September 1981 through June 2001. Fortune magazine, which consistently recognizes Southwest among the world's top 10 most admired companies, called Herb perhaps the best CEO in America. Herb received numerous awards and honors, includ- ing the U.S. Chamber Busi- ness 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; Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy; the Herbert D. Kelleher Servant Leader Scholarship, named in Herb's honor by the Austin Business Travel Association; induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame; induction into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine, Wright Brothers National Memorial; Ronald McDonald House Charities Award of Excellence; and, most recently, induction into the American Advertis- ing Federation Hall of Fame and the Entrepre- neurs for North Texas' Ring of Entrepreneurs. "Herb, as he was called by the 63,000-plus cur- rent employees of Southwest Airlines, the com- pany's retirees, and even customers and admirers of the business and cultural legacy he created and nurtured for decades, oen said in recent years he was 'flunking retirement' as he maintained an office at the company's Love Field Headquarters." Herb relished his private time with his fam- ily, who loved and adored him. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Negley Kelleher, along with three of their four children, Michael Kelleher, Ruth Agather, and David Kelleher, and their spouses, Lisa Kelleher, John Agather, Kathy Kelleher, and son-in-law Dennis Stacy. He's also survived by nine grandchildren (who lovingly called him Poppair), Kevin Stacy, Clara Kelleher, Caroline Kelleher, Michael Kelleher, Jack Ag- ather, Merrilee Agather, Danny Kelleher, Mag- gie Kelleher and Mollie Kelleher, and numerous nieces and nephews. Herb was preceded in death by his daughter, Julie Stacy; his parents, Ruth and Harry Kelleher; his brothers, Harry and Richard Kelleher, and his sister, Ruth Adams. "Herb Kelleher epitomized what it meant to be a Deke through both his personal and professional life. His unwavering support for Gamma Phi at Wesleyan was a constant through the past 50 years. He will be missed." –Dave omas '77, V.P. KLC Gamma Phi Mourns Loss of Dedicated Deke Herb Kelleher '53 $2.75 Million and Rising! $4 Million Goal January 2019 January 2019: $2,751,231 from 146 Donors n November 2018: $2,702,381 from 138 Donors n October 2018: $2,688,381 from 132 Donors n August 2018: $2,675,541 from 118 Donors n February 2018: $1,729,875 from 70 Donors November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 February 2018

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