Working at Southwest for the last 23 years has been a roller coaster ride. Fun and thrills every bit of the way. Many the roads I have traveled, the friends I have made.
I worked for Muse Air and American Airlines prior to my hire date of June 27, 1988 with Southwest Airlines. In 1988, Southwest served 29 airports in 27 cities. That year, Southwest and SeaWorld of Texas introduced Shamu One, a Boeing 737-300 painted like a killer whale.
I started in Ground Operations at the Dallas Love Field Airport, in the East Concourse, and later moved into our new Corporate Headquarters building in 1990.
The first time I met Herb he was dressed as Klinger (female version) at a MASH Theme party.
In April of 1989, Herb made the cover of Texas Monthly posing in his infamous Elvis costume. I was thrilled to be part of the shoot and was featured in the magazine along with other Southwest Employees.
Attending the “Malice in Dallas” in 1992, where Herb competed in an arm wrestling bout for the advertising slogan “Just Plane Smart,” is still burned into my memory. History was made. Southwest Airlines won the 1st Annual Triple Crown the same year.
In 1993, Southwest dedicated a new Boeing 737-300 named “Heroes of the Heart” to 81 Station Administrative Coordinators of which my daughter, Sharmon Walters, was a recipient.
Daughter, Sharmon, and her husband, Dan!
If you have never attended one of Southwest’s Annual Chili Cook-Offs you are definitely missing out. I have tasted chili beside the best, including the 1994 event when Morris pilots presented Herb with his very own Custom Harley-Davidson.
There have been obstacles and sad moments, but the Employees of Southwest have persevered and the airline has survived including the Y2K scare in 1999 and the September 2001 terrorist attack where the FAA ordered every plane out of the sky over the United States.
I wore my pajamas proudly at the Pajama and Bathrobe Party for the retirement of the last Boeing 737-200 and delivery of our 300th Boeing 737 at the DAL Maintenance facility in 2005.
Congress finally approved legislation to repeal the Wright Amendment in September of 2006.
I witnessed the birth of T.J. LUV Jet costumes, Click-n-Save, DING, and several of our famous specialty airplanes.
Various departments that I have worked during my Southwest career include Ground Operations, People, Provisioning, Cargo Management, and Revenue Management & Pricing.
I volunteer for several charitable organizations, including our own SWA LUV Classic, and serve as an active member of the Spirit of Dallas Culture Committee.
Dallas LUV Classic!
My daughter, Sharmon Walters of People, and son-in-law, Dan Walters of Maintenance, work for Southwest. To say we are proud of Southwest Airlines would be an understatement.
We bleed canyon blue.
Southwest is one of the most admired companies in the world. I am proud to say that I am a part of the many faces that hang on the walls at Headquarters. These Employees are more than my Coworkers: they are my Family.