Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. No major injuries were reported when a Boston-bound plane carrying more than 20 people struck a fence and erupted in flames while taking off at Houston Executive Airport on Tuesday morning,. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. 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 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.. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. . Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. (Dobson remains as chairman.) This browser does not support getting your location. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. 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. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. There is a problem with your email/password. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. 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. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. 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.. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. 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. 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. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. "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. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. 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. Benefits. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. [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. Whataburger proposed breaking the stalemate by approving the Laredo location only if Reese agreed to relinquish its lower royalty rate and give Whataburger veto power over all site selections, the lawsuit claims. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. 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. [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. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. We also elevated General Managers in our more than 850 restaurants to Operating partners, serving as the face of Whataburger in their communities, connecting and creating relationships with local schools, businesses, and nonprofits. Search above to list available cemeteries. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. Resend Activation Email. The other victims were identified by the Texas . Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. 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. I'm going to miss her, too." They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. 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. 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. So proud & so tired.17. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. 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 had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Share this memorial using social media sites or email. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. The main reason for the move was for oil. Were honored today to just say . or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. This is the era in which country music legend Mel Tillis started appearing in television commercials for the company, a role that would continue through the 80s. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. The main reason for the move was for oil. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. 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. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. 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. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. 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. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. Great job on your article Courtney! No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. 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. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. I found it very interesting that they are still selling the same tasty burgers they sold in 1950 at their first restaurant in Corpus Christi. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. Please enter your email and password to sign in. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. 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. 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. The men were killed instantly.12, About two years after Harmon Dobsons death, on July 10, 1969, Grace Dobson, the wife of Harmon Dobson, was officially elected chairwoman of the board with George W. Garrison named as the president. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. On April 11, 1967, at around 4:30 p.m., Dobson and his business associate Luther John Sneed took off in Dobson's Cessna Skymaster from an airport in LaPorte heading for Victoria, Texas. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Dobson faced financial challenges. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Really great article. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. 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. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. 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. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. Learn more about merges. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. 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. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. Whataburgers affairs were more and more being turned over to the professionals, all of whom wanted to participate in what by now had ceased to be a family business and had become simply a large corporate entity, WOA claims in its lawsuit. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. The. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 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. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. 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. 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. [4] Burton and Harmon decided that Burton would own the Whataburger franchises in San Antonio, Texas, while Harmon would own the rest of the company and its franchises. 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. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. 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. 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. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? By 1967, business was booming. At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. He had $2500 to invest in the right deal involving oil, and eventually, he became partners with Henry Mode on an oil lease in Loving County, Texas.2 Yet, this investment did not lead to success. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. 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. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. 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. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. 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. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. GREAT NEWS! Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. Harmon Archibald Dobson (October 8, 1913 - April 11, 1967) was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. Its a brand built on pride, care, and love. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. based on information from your browser. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. This was a very interesting story to tell! Oops, we were unable to send the email. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. Leave them blank to get signed up. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. 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. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Try again. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. At the end of 1980, Whataburger opened its 300th restaurant. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty.