"I told Herb I had put too much of my life into Southwest Airlines to walk away from a chance to try and move it ahead, " recalls Parker, who joined the carrier in 1986, after seven years as a partner in Kelleher's former law firm.

FORBES: Is There Such a Thing as Nonstop Growth?

Not completely but close, just waiting to hear how it was going to be, so I could walk out of the surgery and get on with what was left of my life.

NEWYORKER: The Cold Outside