The Whataburger Jr. was added to the menu, as were jalapeos and onion rings. 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. 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. It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. I found this sad and interesting. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Harmon never lived to see his shack become a regional burger empire; he died in a plane crash in 1967. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger He wanted this burgers to be so delicious that it would make a person yell, What a burger! This inspired the naming of his company. Yet, I find it insane that Dobson died so tragically and unexpectedly before he could see his fast food chain truly flourish and gain a big following from many Texans and others from different states. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. Family tree of Harmon Dobson - Geneastar 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. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. While passing through the Southwest United States, particularly Texas, one will probably encounter big, tall, orange and white signs with a Texas-sized W. This is the sign of the famous Texas fast food restaurant Whataburger. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. By 1967, business was booming. [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. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. 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. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. . Montana family mourning loss of pilot | ParkRecord.com Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. Lawrence Jagmin, of . I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. 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. Dobson faced financial challenges. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. A system error has occurred. in 2013. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Great article! 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: Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. 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. However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. Whatabusiness! - Texas Monthly Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. [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. Whataburger had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. 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. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. 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. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. Later, he went to Egypt and worked on the Suez Canal. 1 of 6. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Growing up during the onset of the Great Depression, the Dobson family had few resources, but plenty of food at a time when food meant everything. August 20, 1989. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. There was an error deleting this problem. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. 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. The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. 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. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. 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. Everyone expected Grace, now twice widowed, to crumble, and they encouraged her to sell Whataburger. Wikipedia. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. His parents had reason to worry. One part of this strategy, the lawsuit contends, is to buy out franchisees with an eye toward taking the company public; gaining greater control over its franchise operations could provide greater value to future shareholders. (Dobson remains as chairman.) In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. The story of Dobson was well written here. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. 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. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. . In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. By March 5, the couple was married. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . It was also surprising to me that Whataburgers exists in other states. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. 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. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. harmon dobson plane crash. 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. Harmon Dobson - Wikipedia 0 cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Year should not be greater than current year. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. GREAT NEWS! The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. 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. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. 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. Whataburger - Wikipedia In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. Peterson resigned in 1993. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . 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. 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. 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. Tom Harmon is Missing | University of Michigan Heritage Project Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. This browser does not support getting your location. 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! AKA Thomas E. Dobson. Great article! 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 "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 event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. While passing through the Southwest United States, particularly Texas, one will probably encounter big, tall, orange and white signs with a Texas-sized W. This is the sign of the famous Texas fast food restaurant Whataburger. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Try again later. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. The History of and Story Behind Whataburger Logo - Money Inc Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Two die after small plane crashes in field southwest of Edmonton 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. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. 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. 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. Please reset your password. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Please try again later. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! 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 was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. 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. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Try again later. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. 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. At least 2 injuries reported after plane crash in Houston, Texas - CNN I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. 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. Geographical origins In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. 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.. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. Please enter your email and password to sign in. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. 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. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. 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. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. 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. based on information from your browser. He wanted this burgers to be so delicious that it would make a person yell, What a burger! This inspired the naming of his company. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Try again. A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. 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. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. [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. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. 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. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. List of fatalities from aviation accidents - Wikipedia There is a problem with your email/password. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. Search above to list available cemeteries. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) Being proud of everything we do. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. The first Whataburger was served 66 years ago today in South Texas - mySA