New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The main reason for the move was for oil. Also on the board were Sam W. Main who was vice president, Laneil Andert who was secretary, Ray F. Miller who was treasurer, and Roscoe Smith and Tom E. Dobson as board members.13 During this time, Grace usually avoided the spotlight, but she attended almost every company event. Family members linked to this person will appear here. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Boasting 6,000 square feet, stunning water views and a life-size bronze likeness of Harmon Dobson, this flagship restaurant is a fitting tribute to an amazing man. Geographical origins "But through all of their giving and the charitable things that they did for the community and the state of Texas it glowed down on her anyway. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. DeLaughters Is the Little Grocery Store That Could, The Daughter of a Barbecue Family Takes Tradition in a New Direction, The Old Orange Cafe Is a Piece of Local History, Gen Zs Homemade Tortillas Could Use an Upgrade. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Through the years, she also served in numerous philanthropic capacities including working for the USO, Coastal Bend Youth City, the Kidney Foundation and the Texas State Aquarium. This tiny burger stand offered something people had never seen: a burger that was so big, they had to hold its five-inch bun with two hands. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. Were not making much profit but at least they are going fast for our product.7, August 12, 1950- Big Day 141.80 What a workhouse 551 hamburgers.8, Dobson realized the presentation of his burgers mattered. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? The other victims were identified by the Texas . In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. A system error has occurred. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. She was infuriated that people were telling her to sell off her husbands dream and just enjoy the money. This plane was easy to spot as it towed a Whataburger banner in the air and blared its duck-like airhorn.9, After every flight, business would do well. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. While her husband, Harmon Dobson, was the one who launched the first Whataburger, it was Lady Grace who clung tightly to her husbands legacy through terrible trials and tragedies. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Treating our customers right. After handling freight to pay for his travel, nineteen-year-old Abel Head Pierce, a native of Little Compton, Rhode Island, landed at the Texas port of Indianola five months after leaving home. More than seven decades ago, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, What a burger! He named his humble burger stand, located on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, Whataburger.. Being proud of everything we do. Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Business Nationality: United States Executive summary: CEO of Whataburger Father: Harmon A. Dobson (Whataburger founder, d. 1967, plane crash) Mother: Grace (d. 1-Sep-2005) Brother: Hugh Sister: Lynne Whataburger President (1993-2007) Whataburger CEO (1993-) George W. Bush for President Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. This browser does not support getting your location. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. The larger burgers that could be found back in the 1950s were served on 4-inch buns. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. The agreement stipulated that if Andrewss company identified a location in the three counties that it wanted to develop, Whataburger was obligated to approve the franchise. I always found it kind of weird that Whataburger has mostly been a Texas obsession and it amazes me that when they expanded to Memphis and Las Vegas, business declined. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. I share with Whataburger employees how my brothers and I would have 35 cent Whataburgers from the original Ayers street store before going to the picture show. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. By 1990 Whataburger had 475 locations across the southern United States; WOA was running more than 30 of them, in Bexar, Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. Tom healed the wounds that Peterson left on Whataburger by pulling together as a company, simplifying its message, shutting down less profitable locations, and putting emphasis back on its famous burgers.14. Try again later. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Add to your scrapbook. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. [4], Dobson and Burton business venture was short lived when their partnership ended 1951 because of a dispute over Dobson's price raise of the burger from 25 to 30 cents. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. By March 5, the couple was married. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Andrews developed a close relationship with Dobson; he even coined the companys popular slogan, We build a bigger, better burger., Today, those oversized burgers and the promise of fresh ingredients generate annual sales of $1.8 billion, making Whataburger the thirty-third-largest restaurant chain in the countryand the second-largest founded and based in Texas, after Chilis. Spicing Things Up: Whataburger Buffalo Ranch Chicken Lineup Returns for a Limited Time, Get Ready for More Bold Flavors: Whataburger is Growing in Memphis, Whataburger Celebrates One Year of Delicious Dining in Colorful Colorado, MyWhataburger Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. The Whataburger, however, was a whopping quarter pound of fresh grilled beef loaded with fresh vegetables and served on a 5-inch bun, and in 1950 there was nothing like it. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Harmon Archibald Dobson (October 8, 1913 - April 11, 1967) [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. Thanks for your help! 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Restaurant Owners Condition: -- Price: US $10.00 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: US $4.99Standard Shipping | See details Located in: Memphis, Tennessee, United States Delivery: The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Angel crashed fifteen times before meeting his demise, but it only took Dobson four wrecks to wake up and realize the diamond business might prove fatal. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. [4] cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. The Texas burger landscape is more competitive than ever, thanks to an influx of regional mini-chains such as Austins P. Terrys, the Metroplexs Twisted Root Burger Co., and Houstons Becks Prime and smaller national chains such as Smashburger, Five Guys, and Shake Shack. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. Failed to report flower. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. Really great article. The plane was bound for Love Field in Dallas when it went down at 5:16 P.M. according to Mitch Barket, a Federal Aviation Admistration spokesman. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Following that, he worked at the New York Shipbuilding Company, which, at the time, was the worlds largest boat-builder for the U.S. Navy. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. This was a very interesting story as I am always buying Whataburger and hear that is was once a family restaurant but never really took the time to read and learn about the story. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. In part because of its regional statusof the nearly 800 current Whataburger locations, more than 600 are in Texasthe chain inspires a combination of pride and loyalty among many Texans. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. 1 Colonization and Settlement (1500-1763), 2 Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1801), 4 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877), 5 Emergence of Modern America (1877-1929), 4 Late Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation Europe (1300-1648), 3 Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE), HS 1302 United States History since 1877, SP 3392 Language Variation and Dialectology of Spanish, Dom DiFurio and Oria McCaffrey, Whataburgers founding family sells controlling stake in iconic Texas chain,, College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences. A Montana family is mourning the loss of their husband, father and grandfather this week after the 50-year-old man crashed in an airplane in Summit County while flying solo along a route he knew well. The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. Were not making much profit but at least they are going fast for our product.7, August 12, 1950- Big Day 141.80 What a workhouse 551 hamburgers.8, Dobson realized the presentation of his burgers mattered. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. (Dobson remains as chairman.) You have chosen this person to be their own family member. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Loved this article! As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Earlier this year, Andrewss company, now run by his daughter, Kathy Andrews Reese, sued the restaurant chain, claiming that Whataburger had reneged on a 22-year-old agreement between the two companies. Im beginning to like it & the dollars too.11, By the spring of 1967, Whataburger had expanded to more than forty stores in sixteen Texas cities and four states since it had first opened in 1950. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. He was able to please his customers with a five-inch burger by making special arrangements with the Rainbo Bread Company to develop five-inch buns, which were an inch larger than the standard bun. Police say the Harmon Rocket a two-seat sport plane caught fire after the crash, and both a man and a woman were found deceased inside the aircraft. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. After her husband died, Grace Dobson surrounded herself with a management team, became chairwoman of the board and grew the business to more than 600 company-owned and franchised stores - and raised three children as a single parent. Verify and try again. On July 19, 1989, one of the most dramatic events in aviation unfolded in the skies over Iowa as heroic pilots battled to land a crippled DC-10. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. Because of World War II, auto manufacturing plants had been repurposed to produce wartime products. I found this sad and interesting. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Peterson resigned in 1993. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. Dobson even cut a deal with a local bakery to make special-sized buns; the Rainbo bakery had to search the country for a company that could make pans big enough to bake them. The Transportation Safety Board says a plane that crashed last year southwest of Edmonton killing the two people on board, had collided with a power line.. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. In 2020, Whataburgers 70th anniversary year, curbside pickup and delivery options launched, the companys first food truck was unveiled, and our first new large-unit prototype opened. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. Fifty years after standing in line at the first Whataburger where he made friends with Grace Dobson, local businessmen Robert Adler was on hand earlier this year when his friend "Lady Grace" threw out the first pitch at the opening of Whataburger Field. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. Try again later. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Whataburger saw a change of leadership for the first time since the 1990s as Tom Dobson, Harmon's son, took over as President and CEO. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! For the Andrews family, this shift in corporate culture first became apparent two years ago, when it told the company headquarters, which had moved from Corpus to San Antonio in 2009, that it wanted to open a new store in Laredo. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Great job on your article Courtney! Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! In 1952 Andrews, who lived in Alice, brought his family to eat at the Kingsville branch and was so impressed that he contacted Dobson about buying a franchise.
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