[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 51 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E343-E344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF HERBERT KELLEHER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 25, 2019

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
Herbert Kelleher.
  Mr. Kelleher was born in Camden, New Jersey to Ruth and Harry 
Kelleher. He attended Wesleyan University and received his bachelor's 
degree in English and a minor in Philosophy. At Wesleyan, he was an 
Olin Scholar and president of the student body. He later attended law 
school at New York University where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar. He 
and his wife eventually moved to Texas, where he co-founded Southwest 
Airlines and helped build one of the world's largest and most 
successful airlines.
  As CEO and Executive Chairman of Southwest Airlines, Mr. Kelleher, 
was known as a witty, inspiring, and compassionate leader and friend. 
He also valued his employees above all else and never laid off a single 
worker. He received many honors and awards including

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CEO of the year and even CEO of the century by Texas Monthly Magazine. 
He was well-known within the business and financial world and received 
awards such as the Bower Award for Business Leadership from the 
Franklin Institute. He is also remembered through scholarships named in 
his honor such as the Herbert D. Kelleher Servant Leader Scholarship. 
Mr. Kelleher also played a role on many boards such as the Federal 
Reserve Bank of Dallas, the National Air and Space Museum, and the 
Homeland Security Advisory Council.
  Mr. Kelleher, often referred to by his first name Herb, was also 
dearly loved by his family. He is survived by his wife, Joan Negley 
Kelleher, whom he met while attending school at Wesleyan University. 
They were married for sixty-four years and had four children. He is 
survived by three of his children, Michael Kelleher, David Kelleher and 
Ruth Agather. He is also lovingly remembered by nine grandchildren, who 
called him ``Poppair''.

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