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.. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. 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. So proud & so tired.17. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. based on information from your browser. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Really great article. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. 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. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. However, before he found his landing place, he took a detour to Africa where he partnered with friend JimmyAngel, who insisted that there was a lucrative diamond business there. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. She was very excited about that." As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Add to your scrapbook. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. Dobson faced financial challenges. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. I enjoyed reading the little journal entries included in this article because it makes it more unique and gives it a more personal feeling to what Dobson had been feeling and thinking as he was starting up Whataburger. Great article! The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. 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. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. 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. I found this sad and interesting. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Dobson wrote about this difficulty in his journal: Late May, 1950- Landed back in Midland April 21 to find that Henry Mode, my oil partner, had begun drinking again. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. Try again. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. 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. Unwilling to compromise, Dobson offered Burton the keys to his yellow Plymouth convertible and franchise rights to all of San Antonio in exchange for the business. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. The story of Dobson was well written here. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. 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. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. The main reason for the move was for oil. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. . I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. 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. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors 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. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Learn more about merges. In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. Because of World War II, auto manufacturing plants had been repurposed to produce wartime products. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Please enter your email and password to sign in. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. We have set your language to We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. This is a great article and very informative! Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. Benefits. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. And never forgetting where we started. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. Dobson wrote about this difficulty in his journal: Late May, 1950- Landed back in Midland April 21 to find that Henry Mode, my oil partner, had begun drinking again. 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. This is such a great topic! Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. 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 agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The next year, we awarded more than $90 million in bonuses to our Family Members (what we call our employees) in thanks for their extraordinary service during the pandemic. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. In 2017 alone, Whataburger partnered with over 600 charities across its ten-state service area, donating over $5 million. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. [4] She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Hugh Dobson; a daughter, Lynne Dobson; three sisters, Lola Stettler, Louise Abbot and Jean Florie; and five grandchildren. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. In fact, people love representing Whataburger so much, they rush out to get the latest Whataburger swag: from Whataburger sunglasses to Whataburger sneakers, t-shirts, sweaters, and hats. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. Leave them blank to get signed up. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Neither Whataburger nor Whataburger of Alice would be what it is today without the other. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. 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. 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. Numbers went from 600 to 950 burgers per day.10, August 4, 1951- Proud to be the beginning of what may be a lifelong business. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. 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.. 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. Whataburger dismisses WOAs allegations, saying the suit contains serious misstatements and baseless speculation. (Whataburger and WOA and their attorneys declined to be interviewed for this story. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. 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. Failed to delete memorial. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. This browser does not support getting your location. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Please try again later. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. 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. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. 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. Try again later. The. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. "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. 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. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. When everyone told Grace to just let go, the love of her husband and the desire to honor a promise propelled her forward into uncharted territory as she fought to keep the Whataburger legacy alive. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. After hearing from a friend in Houston that Texas was teeming with both cars and oil, Dobson, whose business ventures now had him traveling halfway across the U.S., purchased a private plane and learned to fly it. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. 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. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. Dobson lived in the same modest house at Santa Fe Street and Meldo Park Drive for years, maintaining a close relationship with her children, grandchildren and friends, Sheka said. Beechcraft Model 18. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. [2] She ultimately refused to sell the company, wanting it to be kept in the family, and became chairwoman of the board of Whataburger until her death in 2005. It was interesting to me reading about the founder of this fast food chain Whtaburger, and all the dedication he put towards his work, I think is very tragic and unfortunate the way Dobson died, he would have accomplished much more succeses during his life time. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. 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. Born:? [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. 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. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. Lawrence Jagmin, of . The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. 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. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. There was a problem getting your location. Dobson, who was an avid pilot, was inspired by his time in sky, designed the orange and white striped A-frame store in Odessa, Texas, in 1961. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. 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. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers.
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