The last of the old guard has left Southwest Airlines. Colleen Barrett, the airline's mother in chief and head of culture, had her last day in the office the other day, and is retiring. Herb Kelleher, a founder, has left, and Gary Kelly, a long-timer but still a new kid on the block, has taken over titles and now runs the show. Colleen, who stays on the payroll through July 2013, had her last day at the airline's Love Field, Dallas, headquarters. It was marked by the ringing of cowbells. During her childhood in Bellows Falls, Vermont, her mother used to ring "that darned cowbell" every time she or one of her brothers would celebrate an achievement. You can find some footage of the ceremony here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZw_TDCfek and also here http://gallery.swamedia.com/videos/value=open/type=video. (Colleen and Herb both continue to share their wisdom and experience with Southwest but are out of day-to-day operations).
Before she joined Southwest in 1978, Colleen Barrett worked for several years as an executive assistant to Herb Kelleher (Southwest's Founder and former Executive Chairman) at his law firm. For Southwest Airlines, she has served as Secretary of the Corporation since March 1978; and served as Vice President Administration from 1986 to 1990; Executive Vice President Customers from 1990 to 2001; and President from 2001 to present.
The last of the old guard has left Southwest Airlines. Colleen Barrett, the airline's mother in chief and head of culture, had her last day in the office the other day, and is retiring. Herb Kelleher, a founder, has left, and Gary Kelly, a long-timer but still a new kid on the block, has taken over titles and now runs the show. Colleen, who stays on the payroll through July 2013, had her last day 
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