Southwest is very proud of our Dallas roots. For the past 40 years, our Headquarters has been in Dallas, our Pilots and Flight Attendants train in Dallas, our Dispatchers handle our flights from Dallas, and most of the Company’s support departments are in Dallas. However another city has longer ties with Southwest, and in many ways, that city helped to define our Corporate Culture. I am speaking of San Antonio. San Antonio is where our Cofounders, Rollin King and Herb Kelleher, first met back in 1966 when Rollin needed a lawyer to liquidate his Wild Goose Flying Service. After work, they would meet across the corner at the St. Anthony Hotel for drinks, and Rollin talked about his dream of starting an intrastate, low-cost airline similar to California’s PSA. Other key folks who would later become Southwest legends, have roots in San Antonio, like President Emeritus Colleen Barrett, a single mom working as Herb’s legal secretary. Even our current CEO, President, and Chairman, Gary Kelly is from San Antonio.
Because we kicked off our formal 40th Anniversary celebration in San Antonio this week, I have some early photos of our San Antonio operation. I love how simple and folksy our ticket counters were back then (above). They featured large head shot posters of some of our Flight Attendants. There are two additional things of interest in this photo, but unfortunately you might not be able to see them because of blog limitations on photos. The first is that you can see the Mexicana counter down at the far left. Secondly, the door to the counter’s back room is open at the far right of the photo, and you can see through the window at extreme right that it is daytime.
N24SW has just arrived and is deplaning Customers, while the far aircraft has just retracted its stairs and is preparing to depart. On the 737, the integral air stairs were stowed just under the main entrance and below the cabin floor.
Next, we have a slightly later view of the San Antonio facility. The two previous photos were from early 1973. In the remaining photos, the backdrop of the counter has lost its folksiness, in exchange for the city plaques.
The gate waiting area certainly reflected a 70s design style, and as I point out in these early photos, there are very few carryon items, just cosmetic and brief cases.
One of the things that have remained the same over the years is the Customer Service we provide our Customers. Here Ticket Agent (the position is now Customer Service Agent) Nancy Grubbs is intently trying to assist the Customer.
I’ve lived in Dallas off and on since 1967, and I do love this area, but because so many of our early and present Leaders come from San Antonio, I think the San Antonio background gave us tolerance and an appreciation for the individual and the importance of family, which has served us well over the years. Thank you, San Antonio, for sharing your best with us.