Southwest Airlines founder and chairman emeritus Herb Kelleher died Thursday at the age of 87. Kelleher, a lawyer who left his firm with the idea to start an airline, pioneered the low-cost-carrier model when he launched Southwest in 1971. He served as the airline's executive chairman from March 1978 to May 2008 and as president and CEO from September 1981 through June 2001. "One of the greatest joys of my life has been working alongside Herb for more than 30 years," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said in a blog post on the carrier's website. "His stamp on the airline industry cannot be overstated. His vision for making air travel affordable for all revolutionized the industry, and you can still see that transformation taking place today." BTN in 2012 inducted Kelleher into the Business Travel Hall of Fame.
WATCH: Herb Kelleher's speech from BTN's 2012 Hall of Fame gala