<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Born: 1941 in San Antonio, Texas

Education: Science degree from Abilene Christian University, Dallas. Graduated from Harvard's advanced management programme in 1992

Career: Joined the US navy as an aircraft engineer aged 17. Moved into commercial aviation with a job at Braniff Airlines in 1979. Moved to Western Airlines and Piedmont Airlines before joining Boeing in 1988, where he was responsible for 737 and 757 aircraft. Joined Continental Airlines in February 1994, appointed chief executive 10 months later

Family: Separated, with three grown-up children

Leisure: Rides a Harley-Davidson, collects clocks and watches. Licensed to fly Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft </font>