Founder Profile
Herb Kelleher
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Herb Kelleher?
Herb Kelleher is a founder of Southwest Airlines, which was founded in 1967 with Rollin King.
- Company founded
- Southwest Airlines
- Founded
- 1967
- Co-founders
- Rollin King
Background
Lawyer from New Jersey who relocated to Texas to establish a law practice.
Founding Story
Herb Kelleher (1931-2019) co-founded Southwest Airlines in 1967. Famous for sketching the initial business plan on a cocktail napkin, he spent the first four years of the company's existence fiercely fighting legal battles against entrenched Texas airlines that tried to block Southwest from flying. As CEO, he established the airline's defining ultra-low-cost model: flying only Boeing 737s, offering no assigned seating, and maintaining a highly unorthodox, fun corporate culture. He served as CEO until 2001 and remained Chairman until 2008.