Bruce R. Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Bruce R. Kennedy was a businessman best known for his work as Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Airlines
between 1979 and 1991 where he presided over the expansion of the airline. He retired in the early 1990s to do humanitarian work before his death in 2007. He also served as a national leader in his church.
in 1938. He moved to Alaska
as a teenager and graduated from the University of Alaska in 1963. Following graduation, Kennedy served as an artillery
officer in the United States Army
where he met his wife Karleen. He later entered the real estate
business before his company acquired Alaska Airlines
when it was nearly bankrupt in 1972.
, Russia and Mexico
. As well, he fostered the development of subsidiary Horizon Air
.
which made aircraft for dangerous and remote locations and served on the boards of Christian organisations. He also served on the board of Alaska Air which was now based in Washington where he lived.
Kennedy died in a plane crash near Wenatchee, Washington
while visiting his grandchildren.
from 1993-1999. He was an elder in John Knox Church in Seattle at the time of his death.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
between 1979 and 1991 where he presided over the expansion of the airline. He retired in the early 1990s to do humanitarian work before his death in 2007. He also served as a national leader in his church.
Early life and career
Kennedy was born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
in 1938. He moved to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
as a teenager and graduated from the University of Alaska in 1963. Following graduation, Kennedy served as an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
where he met his wife Karleen. He later entered the real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business before his company acquired Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
when it was nearly bankrupt in 1972.
Alaska Airlines
Kennedy became the CEO of Alaska Airlines in 1979. Annual revenue for the airline grew from $234.5 million in 1982 to $1.1 billion in 1991. He was largely responsible for the airline developing two routes to southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, Russia and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. As well, he fostered the development of subsidiary Horizon Air
Horizon Air
Horizon Air Industries, Inc. is a regional low-cost airline based in SeaTac, Washington, United States. It is the eighth largest regional airline in the USA, serving 52 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico....
.
Humanitarian work
He retired in 1991 to undertake humanitarian work. Kennedy traveled to China to teach English and sheltered refugees in his house. He was the chairman of Quest AircraftQuest Aircraft
Quest Aircraft Company is an American aircraft manufacturing company located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Quest was started in 2001 to design and provide aircraft suitable for domestic and international humanitarian applications.-History:...
which made aircraft for dangerous and remote locations and served on the boards of Christian organisations. He also served on the board of Alaska Air which was now based in Washington where he lived.
Kennedy died in a plane crash near Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
while visiting his grandchildren.
Leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Kennedy was a member of the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
from 1993-1999. He was an elder in John Knox Church in Seattle at the time of his death.