Southwest Passage

[Skyrunner]

Hey Ya'll,

I finished Lamar Muse's, "Southwest Passage" a few moons ago. Pretty good read. I didn't realize how instrumental(sp) he was in getting Southwest off the ground and turning profits. The book goes into detail about LUV's early financial numbers and route structure formulas. I think it's a great read for anyone wanting an interview at LUV.

Any Southwest Bubbas or Bubbettes know how the company feels about Lamar Muse and his early departure in 1978? What do ya'll think about the book?

Take care and fly safe,

SR

 

[rangridr]

I read the book too. It gives great incite into the beginnings of the company as well as the competition that existed as they tried to start up. A must read if you are into SWA and want to learn as much as you can about the company, even though Lamar Muse gets a little big headed towards the end of the book. Because of the way Muse left the company, I don't think his name is mentioned much anymore even though they still credit him for some of their early success. That is just my two cents though.

 

[mach zero]

I haven't read his book but I remember flying Muse Air and later Transtar Airlines. It was a nice airline from a pax perspective, no smoking (new in those days), clean planes, friendly employees, and assigned seats.

 

[TR4A]

Any Southwest Bubbas or Bubbettes know how the company feels about Lamar Muse and his early departure in 1978? What do ya'll think about the book?

I have been here over 10 years. He is not talked about from the company. I think the majority of the employees, (and the nation) thinks Herb started the company and has been running it from the beginning.

He is mentioned on the southwest web site:
http://www.iflyswa.com/about_swa/airborne.html

Rowlin King is not talked about much. He came up with idea. Some of the old Dallas pilots said he flew a little back in the beginning. He is still on the Board of Directors

 

[Rythm3]

Haven't read that one yet, but am about half way through "Nuts."
Enjoying it so far.

 

[Cows Go Moo]

I just finished it myself. It's a pretty good book. Entertaining and easy to read, it almost sounds like Lamar's diary. He's clearly a colorful character and contributed toward a lot of SWA's early success. He had his abrasive moments, though (which adds to the entertainment element). Probably why he didn't stay very long (at SWA or at any other company).

 

[knelson]

I finished Southwest Passage a few months back after first hearing about it from this forum. It seems to me like it's a pretty one-sided story, but nonetheless an entertaining read. He includes some very funny stories about the early days that even overlap/parallel "Nuts". I Agree with rangridr, Muse gets pretty proud of himself toward the end, but if what he writes has any truth to it, I think he has a right to do so. He does indicate that Rowlin King did fly some as part of an agreement to stay out of the day-to-day business, if I remember correctly. It might be pretty interesting to put Rowlin King, Herb, Muse and Ms. Barrett and the rest of the Board of Directors from '78 in a room and see how much authinticity the book really has to it. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a future interest with Southwest. Just save the highliter for "Nuts".

Kevin