Blog Alumni

blusk
Author Since 2006

Brian Lusk

Of all our bloggers, I am probably the oldest, but I don’t feel my age. I was born in 1952, just a couple of blocks from the Santa Fe Railway’s main transcontinental line in Clovis, New Mexico to an airline father, so transportation (planes and trains) got in my blood at an early age. As a child, my fondest memories are spending days at work with my dad on the ramp in Amarillo, Texas and on the old observation deck at Dallas Love Field. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas as a journalism major, I got my first airline job with Delta in 1976. During my time at Delta, I worked at Dallas/Fort Worth (during three separate occasions), Detroit, Oakland, Atlanta (at the old terminal), Portland, Oregon, Paris Orly, and Dayton, Ohio. My 18½ years with Delta were split between ramp/operations and ticket counter/gates. I joined Southwest (thankfully!) in 1995, as a Reservations Sales Agent, but then I moved to the communications group in the Executive Office, where. I corresponded with our Customers on a wide variety of topics, but I also got to work on different projects like this blog. About five years ago I moved into the Communication & Strategic Outreach Department and worked primarily in our social media area. Then in 2011, I got my dream job as Southwest's Corporate Historian. I enjoy sharing and preserving Southwest's past with our Employees and the public at large.

Fun Facts

Languages

English and Blog

Hobbies

Aviation and Railroading

Pets

My basset, Annabelle

High School

El Segundo High School, El Segundo, Ca and WT White in Dallas

College

Southern Methodist

Favorite Sports Teams

Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavs, SMU, Cowboys

Favorite Travel Destinations

Scotland

Your Favorite Southwest Story

The current week's Flashback Fridays

Recent Activity:

Recent Activity Posts

Family Roots of the Archival Kind

Nov 06 2009
I had written this before breaking my arm on vacation.  Even though I am still recuperating, I would like to thank Marie and Tiffany while the visit is still somewhat fresh. --Broken Arm Blog Boy It seems like my life at Southwest Airlines primarily consists of this blog, but I do have other duties.  One of those duties is very close to my heart, and also very exciting, as I try to corral... read more

Shortcut...Southwest Style

Sep 29 2009
Knowing about a shortcut is like being on the "inside."  Kind of like, "I know a guy."  Well, I do know a guy with a tip--me. Did you just read the news about our new fare sale, and you are wondering how to find the lowest fares?  Well, I had the same problem a couple of months ago.  Yes, one of our great perks for working here is free travel, but it comes with a catch—all... read more

A Tale of Redemption

Sep 24 2009
How many people in your office or classroom do you really know?  I mean beyond the normal work or classroom interaction?  I am lucky in that I get to work with a lot of creative, intelligent, and caring People, but to be honest, with most of them, I don’t know their personal disasters or triumphs.  I am sure they all have both some low moments and their sweet tastes of success, just as I do. ... read more

Red Belly Encore Edition

Sep 16 2009
If Steve Heaser were here, he would say something like "direct from the Red Belly Radio Rerun Department."  Unfortunately, Steve is under the weather, so we are opening the vault to replay an earlier podcast he did about the Tuskegee Airmen.   Actually, this is a timely rerun because the Airmen were in Dallas this week on the Southwest campus. read more

Goodnight, Sweet Prince--A 737-200 Takes its Final Journey

Sep 21 2009
My Fellow Aviation Geeks know that Southwest Airlines retired our last 737-200 on January 17, 2005.  I was one of the lucky Employees (wearing pajamas designed for the event, no less) to have been selected for the hour-long flight onboard N95SW.  Our flight path that day took us down to the Waco area where Captains Jim Rice and Jeff Kilponen turned the airplane around back to Dallas for the last... read more

The Need for Speed

Sep 18 2009
Since the beginning of aviation, the goal has been (until recently) to fly higher, farther, and faster.  Flying farther (on less fuel) is still a main goal, but since the retirement of Concorde a few years ago, we are flying lower and slower.  The sound barrier is still a barrier when it comes to commercial travel, and while the military goes faster and higher, most of us will never exceed 600... read more

September 11

Sep 11 2009
Like December 7 and November 22, for most Americans of a certain age, today’s date still sends a shiver down the spine and causes the breath to quicken.  For those of us in the airline industry, our lives will never be the same, even eight years later.  I don’t know about my Coworkers, but I replay those events in my mind even today.  From the sheer horror of the day; to the incredible acts of... read more

Who or What will Gary be for Halloween

Sep 08 2009
As the last steamy days of summer continue to hold sway, it’s hard to realize that Halloween is just around the corner.  Especially if you are looking for just the right Halloween persona, there just isn’t much time left.  Our CEO, President, Chairman, and once-a-year Halloween star asked me to write this quick post because he out on the road right now in every corner of our system meeting with... read more

Senator Edward Kennedy

Aug 26 2009
Our sympathy goes out to the family of Senator Kennedy.  We were fortunate to see Senator Kennedy onboard our aircraft from time to time out of our Providence Station.  We also owe the Senator a great thank you for his early and staunch support of airline deregulation, which allowed Southwest Airlines to carry our low fares beyond the borders of Texas. In fact, his name was attached to the... read more

Postcard from the NBTA Convention in San Diego

Aug 25 2009
This year, Southwest Airlines has a big presence at the NBTA (National Business Travel Association) Convention in San Diego this week.  Our CEO, President, and Chairman Gary Kelly will speak on a panel today, and our Corporate Sales Team has a booth there.  Kevin Sullivan, our National Manager of Corporate Relations sent us this "dispatch" and the pics from the convention.  ... read more