Pulled Over By Police Hours After Delta Bid Rejected
The past couple of weeks
haven't been great ones for US Airways CEO Doug Parker. Only hours
after US Airways lost its $9.8 billion bid to acquire Delta last
month, the news of his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving went
public and has been the subject of newspaper reports worldwide.
Parker (right) was arrested January 31 after leaving a
company-sponsored event at the FBR (Friedman, Billings, Ramsey
Group, Inc.) Open golf tournament in Scottsdale, AZ, according to
the Scottsdale News.
The CEO went on the offensive after his arrest, writing a
note to employees before the lab test came back showing a
blood-alcohol level of 0.096, above the state's legal limit of
0.08. "I believe it is very likely those tests will come back under
the legal limit," he said
After lab results came back Friday, another letter was
distributed.
"I will accept the consequences of my actions and I will ensure
that it doesn't happen again," he wrote. "Again, I apologize to you
and appreciate the hundreds of notes of encouragement that I have
received from you already. I have let down all of you and also my
family, and that is something I will have to live with irrespective
of the outcome."
US Airways spokeswoman Elise Eberwein said Parker told her he
was driving two friends home who had too much to drink at the
event. He is "embarrassed beyond words and knows more is expected
of him," she added.
When he was pulled over, the 45-year-old executive was given
roadside sobriety tests by a special Scottsdale DUI patrol, then
taken to a nearby police station where his blood was drawn. He was
then booked, and his mug shot was taken.
Parker told the officer he had downed three beers in two hours
at the event but did not feel impaired. "When asked if I had had
anything to drink, I answered truthfully," Parker wrote in one of
the memos to employees.
He was then sent home in a taxi. Parker is scheduled to appear
in Scottsdale Municipal Court on February 21.
The Arizona Republic reported Friday that Parker was arrested by
police in Dallas, TX in January 1991 on suspicion of drunken
driving, for which he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of
DUI and was given a probated sentence of 30 days in jail, two years
probation and a $250 fine.
The bad news didn't stop there, however. US Airways, in
following up numerous press inquiries Saturday regarding prior
alcohol-related offenses, released this statement from Parker.
"While dated, I was regrettably involved in three other
alcohol-related incidents in my twenties. Two involved driving
under the influence (one a misdemeanor) and the third occurred in
college while a passenger in a friend's car.
"As it relates to my past, I admit
that I was indeed irresponsible at times in my twenties. I got my
wake-up call long ago as I got married, had kids, and assumed
positions of responsibility at work. As I communicated to our
employees earlier this morning, my mistake of last week was just
that — a mistake, not a trend and I believe that events from
15 and 20 years ago do not reflect on the person I am today.
"Once again, I am extremely sorry for the embarrassment I have
brought upon US Airways. I accept full responsibility for my
actions and guarantee it will not happen again. I can't do much to
change what I did in my twenties but I can make sure that I handle
all of this with the professionalism and integrity that I value in
myself and that our employees, customers and shareholders deserve.
All of our stakeholders have my commitment to do just that."
US Airways made a hostile bid for bankrupt Delta on November 15.
and later raised its bid by nearly 20 percent in hopes of swaying
the carrier's official committee of unsecured creditors. Creditors
rejected the offer on January 31, and Parker pulled the bid within
minutes of being informed of the move.
Parker worked for American Airlines from 1986-91, was at
Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis from 1991-95, and then joined
Tempe-based America West Airlines as its chief financial officer.
He became America West's CEO in September 2001 and the carrier
acquired US Airways in 2005.
If convicted, Parker could be ordered to pay a $500 fine, spend
from one to 10 days in jail, lose his driver's license for 30 days
and be put on probation for at least five years.