In his book Southwest Passage Lamar Muse, founding President of Southwest Airlines, relays the story of his ouster – the precipitating issue, in his telling, was that he'd placed a $1000 deposit on a new aircraft order without the board's approval. In his mind he had authorization to spend $1000 to secure a deal option, in airline co-founder Rollin King's mind he had exceeded his authority in placing an aircraft order without board approval. It was this board battle, that Muse lost, that led to Herb Kelleher taking operational control of the airline.