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The Stars at Night are Big and Bright

blusk
Aviator C

 

What do you get when you mix 6,000 Southwest Airlines Employees and guests, food and drink, a famous Texas Swing band, a crisp, clear autumn night, and two legends of the airline industry?  You get the Smokin’ Spirit Party held at our Dallas Maintenance Base Monday night (October 27).  Be sure and listen to Steve Heaser’s Red Belly Radio podcast from the event, and you can find it in the little box down there to the right on the main page

This year has been a landmark year for Southwest Airlines as Colleen Barrett and Herb Kelleher gave up their Officer positions, and we wanted to celebrate their overwhelming contributions to our careers and lives in a huge Texas-kind of way.  Instead of our usual spring and fall spirit parties, we planned one gigantic one, and it was quite a night.

Of course, food and drink were provided, along with vendor’s booths, photo stations, and roping experts in western attire, and Employees took the opportunity to catch up with old friends. 

 

Approximately 6,000 people eventually showed up, and even before the main event, the crowd is getting thicker.  

The guests of the hour, Herb and Colleen, looked like they had just stepped off a buckboard wagon, and they received several surprises during the night. 

 

The first surprise came from Gary Kelly who announced that we are giving a $50,000 scholarship to Herb’s high school, Haddon Heights High School, in New Jersey.  Colleen’s college alma mater, Becker College, will also receive a similar scholarship. 

Senior Vice President of Communications and Culture, Ginger Hardage, (on the right) and fellow blogger, Sunny Abercrombie, presented Herb and Colleen with trunks full of scrapbooks containing the best wishes of thousands of Employees. 

After Tim McClure of our advertising agency, GSD&M, presented our duo with an artist’s conception of what a combined Herb One/Colleen One might look like, the folks from Incredible Productions performed several songs in Herb and Colleen’s honor.

The Employees were really getting into the spirit of the Spirit Party, with waving the “heads” of Colleen and Herb.

Since Herb and Colleen are legends, the main entertainment needed to be a legend too, and Asleep at the Wheel performed their unique brand of Texas Swing.

Balloons cascading down from the hangar ceiling capped off the band’s performance, and it is time to start planning the next Spirit Party.  However, any future parties have their work cut out to top this one!

16 Comments
drew
Adventurer B
Wow! It looks like it was a fantastic event. I love Herb's LUV boots! Do you have pictures of Herb One/Colleen One to share?
kim-seale
Adventurer C
What an AWESOME event! It was such a privilege to pay tribute to the legendary Herb and the extraordinary Colleen in a tremendously fun venue with so many fellow Employees! Since this was my first Spirit Party, I had nothing to compare it to and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. In fact, I began to wonder if it would live up to all of the internal hype that kept coming out. The answer? YES, it did! The festivities were great, the vendors were generous, the music was excellent, and best of all, the evening was filled with LUV for Herb and Colleen. Many many thanks to the amazing Sunny and her Team for pulling off such an event! I am sure that the few hours of fun were preceded by a huge number of hours of planning and preparation and were followed by lots of clean up to get the Maintenance hangars ready to welcome back the planes that have already returned. Well done, Sunny! But the largest thanks of the evening should go to Herb and Colleen, for making this Company the fantastic place that it is! We LUV you both! Kim Customer Relations Blog Boy
Caleb_Fox
Explorer C
Wow, what a wonderful event! They have been an integral part to the success of Southwest Airlines.
pberg
Frequent Flyer B
Brian - thanks so much. I wish I could have been there...the photos are fantastic. And congrats to Mallory and her team...I hear the event went off without a hitch! Someone actually drew me a diagram to illustrate how smooth the beer lines flowed!
blusk
Aviator C
Paula, Beer distribution is easy. You put the kegs in the center of a square and then folks attack it from all four sides. Drew, I think the plan is to make the posters available for public distribution soon. CRBB, Again, welcome to the Southwest Family! I started to say a Spirit Party is like an A&M Bonfire, but then I remembered your allegiance to that other school.
Anonymous4063
Explorer A
Hey Brian, I know this is off topic but is the schedule to and from Minneapolis going to be released on November 6 when the schedule comes out? We are really looking forward to Southwest coming here. Thanks
Brooke_Brooks_-
Explorer C
You know - I've heard stories about what an amazing bunch of people you are and what an awesome company this is. The only thing about those stories... they simply don't do you guys justice. You guys ROCK. Thank you SO much to Sunny, Mary Ann, Mallorie, Leslie & Co., for giving me the opportunity to be part of your fabulous event and to meet so many great new people. Hugs!
Bill
Employee
Employee
I echo PB....Mallory, and group, you guys OUTDID yourselves. Everyone had a great time, food beer and music were all great, and the attendance was phenomenal. Thanks for a GREAT event to honor two aviation legends for their achievements! --Bill
stevelmto
Explorer C
Nice web site. No way to contact the company directly. Moderated blog on the web site. 79-99 Dollar fares unless you book online.... How else do you book tickets now. Nice I love me website. Not customer friendly. I've been flying Southwest for years. I can't tell you how happy I am you came to Denver. But advertising 79-99 dollar fares and charging 500... is false advertising. I love your I love me website.
blusk
Aviator C
Hi Steve, While we don't have a contact for online correspondence...yet--see below, we can be contacted via phone, fax, or mail. The information is above under the "about" tab. In addition, this blog really isn't the format to deal with individual issues, but our Customer Relations folks respond to all communications sent their way. The good news is that sometime in the fourth quarter, we should be able to offer inbound e-mail for Customer Service issues. Brian
kim-seale
Adventurer C
Brian, Yud beter knot promus two much frum thoise CR folkes -- iv'e hurd they ai'nt to entellygent. KS CRBB
blusk
Aviator C
Y naught, Cuzzin Kim?
kim-seale
Adventurer C
Nope, I jist sits on the porch playin' me banjo whenevur strangurs come arund these hyar parts. Wanna duel?
tim-c
Explorer C
It was an awesome party, and I was blessed to get to be there with my wife. We laughed a lot, danced a lot, and shed a wee tear or two as we honored Herb and Colleen. Thanks for the fantastic party, Southwest!!! My seatback and tray are in the upright position, and I'm ready to go!
kim-seale
Adventurer C
At the time, I never realized that Ginger and Sunny's time up on stage under the bright lights was just a prelude and warm-up act to their musical and theatrical debut four days later! Great job Monday night as "yourselves" and again on Friday as your alter egos!! Kim Customer Relations Blog Boy
ARUNA
Explorer C
HI THE PICTURE WITH THE BALLOONS IS ARUNA--CSA FROM MDW SWA