Southwest Airlines Community

I’m proud to be associated with Southwest Airlines’ Continuing the Legacy in Aviation pogram. For the past three years, we have welcomed a large number of students who have an interest in aviation. One student in particular has aspirations to be a Pilot, his name is Tyrell Rhodes.  Tyrell was a part of last year’s Continuing the Legacy program and he’s already a success story.  Click here to read an article about him. Southwest First Officer John Addison gives Tyrell a tour of a simulator. (top)   Tyrell is surrounded by two Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Spann (l) and Doctor McDaniel (r). ... View more

This year, Southwest Airlines again organized the Continuing the Legacy in Aviation Program. Eleven students and 14 parents and chaperones from seven non-profit and education organizations experienced a priceless and invaluable opportunity this fall. For the second year in a row Southwest Airlines invited these guests in to tour our facilities and to have the students see what we do as an airline.     The Second Continuing the Legacy in Aviation participating organizations included:  The Bessie Coleman Foundation; National Tuskegee Airmen, Inc Youth Department; Northern Virginia Urban League; First Baptist Church of Glenarden Aviation Ministry; Claude R. Platte DFW Tuskegee Airmen Chapter; Aerospace Science Program at Western Hills High School in Fort Worth, Texas; and the AFJROTC Aerospace Science Program at Guyer High School in Denton, Texas. On the two-day venture, the students were joined by the legendary Tuskegee Airmen from the Claude R. Platte DFW Tuskegee Airmen Chapter; Mr. Claude Platte, Mr. Calvin Spann, and Mr. Robert T. McDaniel.   Before the students made their way to Southwest Airlines, they stopped and visited the Dallas Love Field Control Tower. They observed how the air traffic controllers directed the planes by using mathematics and technical controls, while being mindful of the weather.  Next, the students visited the Frontiers of Flight Museum where they got the chance of a lifetime, by flying in an F-16 simulator.   The learning continued the next day at the Southwest Airlines Flight Training Center .  Here, the students sat in the 737 simulator cockpits and asked lots of questions.  Without a minute to spare, the students boarded the Inflight simulator to experience the Flight Attendant training.      Next, the students visited the Dallas Maintenance Hangar, where they got a chance to experience what we do as Mechanics on a daily basis.  They then visited our Dispatchers in Flight Dispatch, and lastly, the students put on headsets and listened to calls at the Customer Support and Services Department. “Southwest Airlines understands how seeing, touching, hearing, and doing opens up a whole new world for students—they are teachable and impressionable moments,” said Karen Price-Ward, Corporate Community Affairs Manager for Southwest Airlines.   We must continue to show our youth that they can do whatever they set out to do, if they work hard and believe in themselves.   ... View more

This really has nothing to do with Southwest Airlines’ funny commercials that ask “Wanna get away?” when someone gets in a very embarrassing situation. This is more about having a place in your own house that you can go to and get away from everything around you, some place where you can relax. This room is one that I claimed when my wife and I bought our new home. (With her permission of course.) I converted the media room into a sports bar. Over the years I had collected all types of sports memorabilia just for this project and hoped that one day I would be able to use them. I also collect Sports Illustrated covers, and I use them as part of the décor, along with all the Southwest Airlines memorabilia I have.   The biggest task of the sports bar project was building the bar itself, I guess my woodworking experience in high school paid off.   The room also has a basketball goal that was given to me by a friend, and yes, it’s the regulation height of ten feet. (It’s just for the look.)  I recently came across a news article on msnbc.com titled “ Man Caves ” and it was a story about guys who had the same idea as I did…having a place to hang out and entertain. I had no idea I was making a man cave. My room is simply called “The Hangar.”  The name was chosen by a family member because I work on airplanes for a living and because I have just as much airplane stuff as I have sports stuff. I don’t only use “The Hangar” as my own private get away; we also use it to entertain. When family and friends come over we all go up and have drinks, watch sports, watch movies, or just sit back and listen to music. Hey, at least my wife knows where to find me. ... View more

This year we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my house; my parents are driving up from China, Texas; my sister and brother who live locally will be joining us along with their families; and we are having a few friends over as well. Over the years, I have noticed that our Thanksgiving meals started to become real elaborate, and we started having a lot of fancy casseroles and dishes that I could not pronounce.  So, I decided to go back to my roots with the Thanksgiving meal “China Style”:  Traditional baked turkey, deep fried turkey, Cajun dirty rice, cornbread dressing, and other side dishes and desserts that I grew up with.   When my wife sent out the electronic invitation, we got back some great responses, and everyone was excited about what we decided to do. So it’s going to be very nice to have Thanksgiving with my family like old times. And the other tradition in the Guillory house hold on Thanksgiving Day is watching the Dallas Cowboys; that’s one thing that has never changed no matter how fancy the meal gets.   Hope you all have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving. ... View more