It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. In short, Whataburger made it very plain that its position is that Whataburger never intended WOA would have the benefits that the 1993 Agreement clearly states that it does, the lawsuit says. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. During this time he traveled to North Africa where he helped build a U.S. Navy base and worked on airplane hangars, radio towers, tanks, and whatever else the Navy needed. There was a problem getting your location. When he opened the first stand, on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, he envisioned selling a burger big enough that it would take two hands to hold it. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Victim Dies of Injuries Sustained in Crash of Flight 232 Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. Thank God for his drunken partners actions which led him to leave the oil business, otherwise, we wouldnt get to experience the beloved food of Whataburger! [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Peterson resigned in 1993. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. Born:? 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. However, if one thinks about it, if it were not for this incident, Dobson would not have gone down the road that he did to finance Whataburger. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The main reason for the move was for oil. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Try again later. [5][9], "Deep in the Heart: Whataburger's Long History of Success and Brand Identity", "Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harmon_Dobson&oldid=1103833486, This page was last edited on 11 August 2022, at 05:01. 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. In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. She was very excited about that." 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. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. That someone was Harmon Dobson, and that chain is Whataburger, which he started in a Corpus Christi shack in 1950, and which today numbers some 700 restaurants, the majority of them still in Texas. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. 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. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. UPLAND, Pa. (AP) _ A former New Jersey state trooper severely injured in the crash of United Airlines Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa, last month has died, a hospital spokeswoman said. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Unflinching, she steadfastly refused. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. In exchange, his company got renewed assurances of its exclusive rights to develop stores in Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties and locked in a royalty rate lower than that assigned to other franchisees. The story begins in 1950, when Harmon Dobson, an Arkansas native, came to Texas with dreams of making it big in the oil business, but instead prospered in big burgers, opening the first Whataburger stand in Corpus Christi in August of that year. ), When most Whataburger customers walk into the restaurant, they have no idea if the place they are eating at is a franchise or a corporate-owned branch. By 1967, business was booming. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. By 1949, Dobson was done with diamonds and began searching for a safe place to land. The purpose of this is to explore expansion plans in the northern area of the United States while staying true to the brands message.15 Some of the brand messages can be found in The Whataburger Difference. The Whataburger Difference is what separates the company from every other competitor that they have and one of the five points of focus is to protect and serve the best products in the industry.16 With this said, hopefully Texans will stay true to the family brand as changes occur, which would surely make Dobson proud of how his company has grown. This, I believe, will turn out to be a very profitable investment, which is something up until May 1, I was very unaccustomed.3, Dobson aimed to make a better burger a burger so good that it would require two hands to hold it. Insiders still refer to this time in the companys history as the dead zone. Profits fell as the company overreached by opening stores in saturated markets like Las Vegas and adding menu items, like popcorn shrimp salad, that customers didnt want. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. Wikipedia. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. Search above to list available cemeteries. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. 0 cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. 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. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Instead, during the next 38 years, the Whataburger matriarch, who died of complications from cancer Thursday in a local hospital at age 80, played an integral part in growing the hamburger chain into the eighth largest in the nation. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. The lawsuit, filed in San Antonio in March, traces the roots of the dispute to the earliest days of the Whataburger chain, which Dobson founded in 1950 after stints in shipbuilding, oil drilling, and diamond trading. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Amanda's Corpus Christi History: Plane Crash - Blogger Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. Try again later. 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 some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. But the rift between the Andrews family and the burger chain they helped build represents a struggle between the past and the present, and between two families who have known each other for a long time. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Joe Andrews Sr. died in 1999, and his son, Joe Jr., took overand then died suddenly three years later while attending a Whataburger conference in New Orleans. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Geographical origins In the midst of this turmoil, Andrews, who decades earlier had been given exclusive rights to Bexar, Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties, decided in 1990 to sell his San Antonio franchises to an outside buyer, in order to better focus on the South Texas market. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Dobson then bounced around a lot after that work on the Suez Canal in Egypt, and then in Bahrain where he was in charge of a construction of a mess hall. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. The All-Time Favorites menu, featuring four of the most loved specialty sandwiches from over the years, made its debut and was greeted enthusiastically by Whataburger fans. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. Whatabusiness! - Texas Monthly Add to your scrapbook. Mr. Harmon Dobson, the co-Founder of Whataburger Co., died on April 11, 1967, which left his wife and widow, Grace, to take control over the of the business. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 1967. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. So proud & so tired.17. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. And while we now serve hot, fresh food at more than 890 Whataburgers across the country, that burger stand in Corpus Christi is never far from our hearts. 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. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Really great article. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. [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. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Harmon Dobson - Google Search The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. A Douglas C-124C Globemaster II plane, serial 52-1062, was damaged beyond repair in an accident 10 km from Stephenville-Harmon AFB, NL (YJT), Canada. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. Today, Whataburger is a big part of Texas culture, and families all over the Lone Star State can say thank you to Harmon Dobson for helping them to celebrate some of the best moments of their lives. Its competition is McDonalds and Wendys, not a boutique operation with three locations that offers grass-fed-bison burgers topped with arugula on a gluten-free bun. Statue of the Founder of Whataburger, Corpus Christi, Texas 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. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. This was a very interesting story to tell! Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Weve updated the security on the site. Angel was a bit more adventurous than Dobson, though both crashed several times in Africa while mining for diamonds. You can count real friends on one hand. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. This account has been disabled. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. [6] According to witnesses, Dobson was apparently taking off in a steep climb when both engines on the plane failed at around 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30m) in the sky and then plummeted back into the ground. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. List of fatalities from aviation accidents - Wikipedia Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. 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. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Harmon Dobson was sixteen years old on Black Friday, but this first Black Friday was no shopping extravaganza: it marked the most devastating stock market crash in United States history. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. Try again. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. Police received a call at 1:41 p.m that a Harmon Rocket plane crashed into a field near Township Road 504 and Range Road 21, and then caught fire. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? It amazes me how many people talk about whataburger and that those burgers are probably the best they have ever tried because of their unique taste, but I have never tasted one. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Written by: Rebecca Canfield | Photos Courtesy of: Whataburger. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. . Dobson was a notorious bachelor, but he had always liked a beautiful young widow he met at the C.I.T. Credit Corporation in Batesville during his auto dealing years. By the company's seventh decade, Whataburger had grown from a single burger stand in Corpus Christi to an 800-restaurant chain that spanned every state from Arizona to Florida. There was an error deleting this problem. Being proud of everything we do. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. 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. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 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. Dobson filled that need by buying used autos from urban areas like Detroit, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and selling them back in Batesville for huge profits. Neither Whataburger nor Whataburger of Alice would be what it is today without the other. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. 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 Decades-old military plane wreckage found in Alaska glacier, may give 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. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. The History of and Story Behind Whataburger Logo - Money Inc New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Leave them blank to get signed up. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . I found this sad and interesting. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. What disappointed Harmon most about this era was the news that although he was accepted to the University of Missouri to study journalism, he would never graduate. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. Oops, something didn't work. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. Failed to remove flower. On June 23, 1950, the Texas Secretary of State office granted Dobson the trademark for Whataburger. Dobson then invested more time and more effort into developing the first Whatabuger.4, Eventually, on August 8, 1950, Dobson opened and sold his first Whataburger through the window of a little portable building. The All-Time Favorites menu, featuring four of the most loved specialty sandwiches from over the years, made its debut and was greeted enthusiastically by Whataburger fans. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. It was fascinating to see that the burger/fast food chain that Dobson created (along with other people) would end up becoming the most notable food item in Texas. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. August 20, 1989. Saturday, May 24, 2014 Plane Crash After I went to the library earlier this week, I found something Interesting as I was going through my notes. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Today, more than seven-hundred of the distinctive orange and white WHATABURGER restaurants can be found in eleven states, and total more than $1billion is sales annually. Harmon Dobson died in a plane crash in 1967, and his widow, Grace (whose first date with Harmon was at Whataburger #3, in Corpus), ran things until the first outsider, Jim Peterson, took over in the early seventies. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. Whataburger - Wikipedia Learn more about merges. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Some people are legendary because of what they have done, but others and perhaps the most important ones, are legendary because of who they are. Dobson faced financial challenges. The prosperity lasted until 1967 when Dobson and his friend Gene Crane were killed in a plane crash in La Porte, where they had stopped to refuel.
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