Carrier Grew From An Idea For An Intra-Texas Airline

Texas businessman Rollin King, one of the co-founders of Southwest Airlines, passed away Friday in Dallas at the age of 83.

According to a report in The Dallas Morning News, King had brought an idea to his attorney for an intra-Texas airline in 1967. That idea eventually became Southwest Airlines, which began scheduled airline service on June 18, 1971. The airline currently carries more passengers in the U.S. than any other airline.

King's passing was confirmed by Southwest president and CEO Gary Kelly, who said in a statement "The extended family of Southwest Airlines employees and retirees shares in the loss of Rollin King and honors the legacy of affordable air travel he sparked more than 40 years ago.”

Southwest was not King's first aviation enterprise. The paper reports that he had operated an intrastate air taxi flying small aircraft. That service, the Wild Goose Flying Service, was largely unsuccessful. King and attorney Herb Kelleher are said to have sketched out the initial route map for Southwest on a napkin in a bar, but in a 2007 interview with The Dallas Morning News King said that that the napkin story was just that ... a story.

The Associated Press reports that King's son Edward said he died due to complications from a major stroke suffered about a year ago. Funeral arrangements are pending.

FMI: www.southwest.com