Southwest Airlines Dedicates Nolan Ryan Express

Southwest Airlines today inducted baseball great Nolan Ryan into its very own Hall of Fame with the dedication of the "Nolan Ryan Express," a high flying tribute to Ryan's outstanding achievements. Ryan recently returned to Texas from Manhattan, N.Y., where he was announced as one of this year's National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. He will become only the seventh Texan to join this prestigious membership.

Ryan was the first passenger to board the "Nolan Ryan Express," a Southwest Boeing 737-700, as it carried him to dedication ceremonies in Dallas, Austin, and Houston. During christening celebrations in Dallas and Houston, he autographed both sides of the aircraft's nose on two specially designed decals each featuring a baseball with airplane wings and a Southwest colored tail. Ryan broke a confetti-filled champagne bottle across the aircraft's nose during festivities in Austin.

"Nolan Ryan is baseball's all-time record holder for career strikeouts and no-hitters," said Joyce Rogge, Southwest's vice president of marketing. "During his 27 years as a major league pitcher, he broke about as many records in baseball as Southwest did in its first 27 years in the airline industry."

In July, Ryan will again board the "Nolan Ryan Express" to fly to the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in New York.

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