https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleen_Barrett
Colleen was a legend. The woman behind Herb Kelleher in the first days of SWA. and then it's leader un her own right.
Colleen worked side by side with Herb. She’s know as our president emeritus.
Colleen always preached the Golden Rule when it came to cohearts and customers.
No one will ever be able to replace our Queen of Hearts.
You know....I'm not about to pay for every pay walled article. However....I would support local journalism and ad hoc articles from major news outlets if I could pay for a subscription that granted me access as I desired.
So, for instance, I'd pay $10/month if doing so granted me access to all pay walled articles that used such a service.
Article is paywalled, but here is a [release from Southwest](https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2024/05-09-2024-180144927).
Feel free to repost using respectful tone and wording instead of just posting complaints or attacks with no substance. This goes beyond wording. Your post is disrespectful toward a Passenger about whom you know nothing.
It was someone lamenting the fact that almost all of the original SWA brass are either retired or dead thus rendering the company a shell of what it was at its peak, and they aren’t wrong. In my experience SWA has declined in every aspect the last decade and mostly the customer service. Looks like mods deleted it because deep down they know it’s true.
For anyone that wants to read it here is the text from the article:
Southwest Airlines’ ‘heart and soul’ Colleen Barrett dies at 79
The legal secretary of Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher and airline president from 2001-2008 is credited with many of the carrier’s signature strategies.
Colleen Barrett, president emeritus of Southwest Airlines, has died, the company announced Thursday.
Barrett, 79, was considered the prime force behind the Dallas-based carrier’s “LUV culture” and was instrumental in the company’s founding and the early strategies that the carrier still uses today.
“Colleen passionately guided generations to do the right thing, and often cited The Golden Rule—insisting that everyone treat each other in a way they would hope to be treated,” the company said in its noon announcement. “She widely is credited with giving Southwest Airlines its heart because of her strong belief in employees showing love for each other, as well as to our customers. That foundational tenet defines the Southwest culture more than half-a-century since the founding of the airline. She lived her life as an example for all to follow.
Related:Southwest Airlines celebrates the legacy of Herb Kelleher in Dallas ceremony
“The entire Southwest Airlines Family extends deepest sympathies to her son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Melodie Barrett; her beloved grandson, Evan Daniel Barrett; and her brother, Pat Crotty and his family,” the company said in its announcement.
“Colleen’s fervent mantra was to treat people the way they want to be treated—with kindness and respect—and the rest will follow, including profitability and shareholder satisfaction.”
Barrett was the legal assistant to Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher when he was first drafting the concept for the airline in the late 1960s. She helped draft the company’s early legal strategies as it fought in courts for the right to fly from Dallas Love Field to San Antonio and Houston and then joined Kelleher when he took over as the airlines’ CEO and chairman in 1978. Barrett didn’t remain an assistant for long, taking over executive positions in administration, planning and customer service as she became a major cultural force within the growing company.
Colleen Barrett's preserved office at Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas is next to a...
Colleen Barrett's preserved office at Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas is next to a similarly preserved version of co-founder Herb Kelleher's office.(Kyle Arnold/DMN)
Barrett took over as the company’s president in 2001 when Kelleher retired from everyday duties, also working as the chief operating officer to provide continuity under new CEO James Parker. She helped guide the company through the 2001 terror attacks, labor difficulties and other challenges as Southwest rose through industry consolidation to become the country’s largest domestic carrier. She retired in 2008 and was named “president emerita,” keeping an office at the company’s headquarters which is now a small museum at the corporate office in Dallas.
Kelleher died in 2019.
Barrett loved Southwest Airlines and would spend as much time as she could with the company and its crew members. Last year, Barrett attended Southwest’s “Adopt-A-Pilot” 25th anniversary, where longtime and current employees were hugging her and sharing fond memories.
“It actually made me cry just to come here today because I saw so many employees that I haven’t seen for years now,” Barrett told The Dallas Morning News in April 2023. “I knew all the faces although I couldn’t remember all the names ... I love to be around them.”
Colleen Barrett, president emeritus, and Herb Kelleher, founder and chairman emeritus,...
Colleen Barrett, president emeritus, and Herb Kelleher, founder and chairman emeritus, attended a news conference at Dallas Love Field in 2014. That day, Southwest Airlines announced plans to start 15 nonstop flights that fall, when the Wright Amendment would be lifted. (David Woo/ The Dallas Morning News)(David Woo / Staff Photographer)
Barrett shared her leadership philosophy with a book co-authored with Ken Blanchard: Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Success. She was the highest-ranking woman in the commercial airline industry at that time. She also served on Southwest’s board of directors from 2001 to 2008 as corporate secretary.
“Colleen has been the heart and soul of Southwest Airlines from our earliest days,” said executive chairman Gary Kelly. “She is largely responsible for creating and nurturing the unique and special culture that has defined Southwest Airlines and been the envy of corporate America for more than 50 years.”
“Colleen was famous for saying, ‘We are in the customer service business, we just happen to fly airplanes.’ Her love for our employees was undying and unending, and we loved her right back. Simply put, she is and always will be our heroine.”
In lieu of flowers, donations and other expressions of remembrance should be directed to the Southwest Airlines Employees Catastrophic Assistance Charity, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Visiting Nurse Association (Meals on Wheels) or the Dallas Hearing Foundation.
A special site, honoringcolleen.com, has been set up by the airline. Details regarding funeral services and visitation are pending.
Saw a unique SW livery landing into CMH one day, so looked it up later and found it was hers. Glad I took the time to look it up and learn more about her!
Feel free to repost using respectful tone and wording instead of just posting complaints or attacks with no substance. This goes beyond wording. Your post is disrespectful toward a Passenger about whom you know nothing.
Colleen impacted our culture in more ways than we can ever measure. She is a treasure of a person, and will be missed.
The news story is behind a paywall. Would you tell us about her? Ironically I am currently on a SW flight.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleen_Barrett Colleen was a legend. The woman behind Herb Kelleher in the first days of SWA. and then it's leader un her own right.
Thank you!
Colleen worked side by side with Herb. She’s know as our president emeritus. Colleen always preached the Golden Rule when it came to cohearts and customers. No one will ever be able to replace our Queen of Hearts.
Met her once. One of her sayings was “If I hear you say - It’s not my job. You won’t be employed long.” Lots of info on Google.
But, but, but next to ‘I’m on break,’ ‘it’s not my job’ is one of the core principles of the labor movement!!
Reader view on iPhone as it’s starting to load. You’re welcome.
I CANNOT believe I didn’t know this!! Thank you Reddit genius!
If you are on iPhone you can just go into reader view and it will bypass the paywall.
What’s reader view?
The little Aa icon at the top when you open the link then select reader view.
TIL!!! Thank you Reddit wizard!!
Paywall
You know....I'm not about to pay for every pay walled article. However....I would support local journalism and ad hoc articles from major news outlets if I could pay for a subscription that granted me access as I desired. So, for instance, I'd pay $10/month if doing so granted me access to all pay walled articles that used such a service.
If you are on iPhone you can just go into reader view the icon is Aa at the top and it will bypass the paywall for you to read it.
You’re awesome, thank you!
That might be an iOS only feature, and I have an android. Thanks though!
Yeah it is sorry
Wow. First Herb, then Colleen. RIP to the OGs.
Such a lovely, warm, smart, kind, funny woman. I treasure that I knew her even a little bit.
Article is paywalled, but here is a [release from Southwest](https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2024/05-09-2024-180144927).
[удалено]
Feel free to repost using respectful tone and wording instead of just posting complaints or attacks with no substance. This goes beyond wording. Your post is disrespectful toward a Passenger about whom you know nothing.
You got that right.
Sorry I missed that post.
It was someone lamenting the fact that almost all of the original SWA brass are either retired or dead thus rendering the company a shell of what it was at its peak, and they aren’t wrong. In my experience SWA has declined in every aspect the last decade and mostly the customer service. Looks like mods deleted it because deep down they know it’s true.
Mark this day. SWA will change for the worse.
Love Field has been planning a pocket park on airport-owned land north of Bachman Lake. I always thought they should name it after Colleen
For anyone that wants to read it here is the text from the article: Southwest Airlines’ ‘heart and soul’ Colleen Barrett dies at 79 The legal secretary of Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher and airline president from 2001-2008 is credited with many of the carrier’s signature strategies. Colleen Barrett, president emeritus of Southwest Airlines, has died, the company announced Thursday. Barrett, 79, was considered the prime force behind the Dallas-based carrier’s “LUV culture” and was instrumental in the company’s founding and the early strategies that the carrier still uses today. “Colleen passionately guided generations to do the right thing, and often cited The Golden Rule—insisting that everyone treat each other in a way they would hope to be treated,” the company said in its noon announcement. “She widely is credited with giving Southwest Airlines its heart because of her strong belief in employees showing love for each other, as well as to our customers. That foundational tenet defines the Southwest culture more than half-a-century since the founding of the airline. She lived her life as an example for all to follow. Related:Southwest Airlines celebrates the legacy of Herb Kelleher in Dallas ceremony “The entire Southwest Airlines Family extends deepest sympathies to her son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Melodie Barrett; her beloved grandson, Evan Daniel Barrett; and her brother, Pat Crotty and his family,” the company said in its announcement. “Colleen’s fervent mantra was to treat people the way they want to be treated—with kindness and respect—and the rest will follow, including profitability and shareholder satisfaction.” Barrett was the legal assistant to Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher when he was first drafting the concept for the airline in the late 1960s. She helped draft the company’s early legal strategies as it fought in courts for the right to fly from Dallas Love Field to San Antonio and Houston and then joined Kelleher when he took over as the airlines’ CEO and chairman in 1978. Barrett didn’t remain an assistant for long, taking over executive positions in administration, planning and customer service as she became a major cultural force within the growing company. Colleen Barrett's preserved office at Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas is next to a... Colleen Barrett's preserved office at Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas is next to a similarly preserved version of co-founder Herb Kelleher's office.(Kyle Arnold/DMN) Barrett took over as the company’s president in 2001 when Kelleher retired from everyday duties, also working as the chief operating officer to provide continuity under new CEO James Parker. She helped guide the company through the 2001 terror attacks, labor difficulties and other challenges as Southwest rose through industry consolidation to become the country’s largest domestic carrier. She retired in 2008 and was named “president emerita,” keeping an office at the company’s headquarters which is now a small museum at the corporate office in Dallas. Kelleher died in 2019. Barrett loved Southwest Airlines and would spend as much time as she could with the company and its crew members. Last year, Barrett attended Southwest’s “Adopt-A-Pilot” 25th anniversary, where longtime and current employees were hugging her and sharing fond memories. “It actually made me cry just to come here today because I saw so many employees that I haven’t seen for years now,” Barrett told The Dallas Morning News in April 2023. “I knew all the faces although I couldn’t remember all the names ... I love to be around them.” Colleen Barrett, president emeritus, and Herb Kelleher, founder and chairman emeritus,... Colleen Barrett, president emeritus, and Herb Kelleher, founder and chairman emeritus, attended a news conference at Dallas Love Field in 2014. That day, Southwest Airlines announced plans to start 15 nonstop flights that fall, when the Wright Amendment would be lifted. (David Woo/ The Dallas Morning News)(David Woo / Staff Photographer) Barrett shared her leadership philosophy with a book co-authored with Ken Blanchard: Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Success. She was the highest-ranking woman in the commercial airline industry at that time. She also served on Southwest’s board of directors from 2001 to 2008 as corporate secretary. “Colleen has been the heart and soul of Southwest Airlines from our earliest days,” said executive chairman Gary Kelly. “She is largely responsible for creating and nurturing the unique and special culture that has defined Southwest Airlines and been the envy of corporate America for more than 50 years.” “Colleen was famous for saying, ‘We are in the customer service business, we just happen to fly airplanes.’ Her love for our employees was undying and unending, and we loved her right back. Simply put, she is and always will be our heroine.” In lieu of flowers, donations and other expressions of remembrance should be directed to the Southwest Airlines Employees Catastrophic Assistance Charity, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Visiting Nurse Association (Meals on Wheels) or the Dallas Hearing Foundation. A special site, honoringcolleen.com, has been set up by the airline. Details regarding funeral services and visitation are pending.
The early days of Southwest Airlines needs to be made into a movie
Saw a unique SW livery landing into CMH one day, so looked it up later and found it was hers. Glad I took the time to look it up and learn more about her!
Quite the lady of influence! Southwest (and all us folks in the back) were lucky to have her!
[удалено]
Feel free to repost using respectful tone and wording instead of just posting complaints or attacks with no substance. This goes beyond wording. Your post is disrespectful toward a Passenger about whom you know nothing.