While her husband, Harmon Dobson, was the one who launched the first Whataburger, it was Lady Grace who clung tightly to her husbands legacy through terrible trials and tragedies. His parents had reason to worry. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. The. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. 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. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. . On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. 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. Try again later. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. However, everything changed when Dobson was put in charge of the refinerys mess hall, and it was here that his education in large-scale food service began. Thanks for your help! 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. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . Two summers ago, with the South Texas sun beating down, a group of civic leaders gathered in front of the Whataburger on Main Street in Alice to unveil a bust of the late Joe Andrews Sr. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. I found this sad and interesting. At age 16, Dobson was accepted into the University of Missouri to study journalism, but was forced to return to his family farm soon after attending due to a family crisis at home due to the Great Depression. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. A system error has occurred. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. In 2012, though, Tom Dobson relinquished his CEO duties to Atkinson, a former contractor who started building Whataburger restaurants in 1986 and then joined the company in 1998. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Really great article. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. 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. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. By March 5, the couple was married. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. This browser does not support getting your location. During Hurricane Harvey, Whataburger rallied around the Corpus Christi community and quickly began rebuilding and fundraising efforts. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. 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. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. Contents 1 Early life 2 Whataburger 3 Death 4 References Early life ), 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. 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. Loved this article! . Wow! This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. 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. As a standard for mythical tall tales and legends, it comes as no surprise that Texas holds the national corner on stories of lost treasure. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. 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. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. 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. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. 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. New specialty items included the Whataburger Patty Melt and the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. harmon dobson plane crash. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . It was also surprising to me that Whataburgers exists in other states. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. The other victims were identified by the Texas . I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Great article! Early life [ edit] 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 was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. 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. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. 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. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. 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.. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. 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. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . I had over 5000 dollars invested in a drilling deal in Loving County, Texas, and on May 18 almost lost the whole thing through his drinking by fouling up a deal only two days before the money would have been forfeited Am now interested in financing Paul Burton, a hamburger expert, in some small specialized hamburger joints somewhere in Texas. 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. And it is crazy to think how it was once only 35 cents and burger and not they are like 4-5 bucks for the same burger that they sold back then. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). 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. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. By 1967, business was booming. 9 Intense Plane Crashes Caused By Stalls Smithsonian Channel Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation 3.2M views 2 years ago 8 Bad Weather Plane Crashes Smithsonian Channel Smithsonian. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. (Dobson remains as chairman.) She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. 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. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. 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. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! 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. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. 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. 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. For the Andrews family, this shift in corporate culture first became apparent two years ago, when it told the company headquarters, which had moved from Corpus to San Antonio in 2009, that it wanted to open a new store in Laredo. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. 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. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. 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. Written by: Rebecca Canfield | Photos Courtesy of: Whataburger. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. Dobson faced financial challenges. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Year should not be greater than current year. 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. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. This was a very interesting story to tell! https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Learn more about merges. 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. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Unfortunately, Coy was protective of Grace and had warned her about dating his unsettled, gallivanting brother. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. 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,. Non-family executives, without direct ownership interest in a privately held company, sometimes try to profit from a companys success by heading up a public offering. 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. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. The larger burgers that could be found back in the 1950s were served on 4-inch buns. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? It hurts the brand ultimately.. Beechcraft Model 18. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. You can always change this later in your Account settings. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. The Whataburger Jr. was added to the menu, as were jalapeos and onion rings. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. 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. Please try again later. You can count real friends on one hand. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. 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. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. Make sure that the file is a photo. 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. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 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. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Search above to list available cemeteries. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Everyone expected Grace, now twice widowed, to crumble, and they encouraged her to sell Whataburger. harmon dobson plane crash. We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sorry! 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. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. And never forgetting where we started. Please reset your password. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. After he was killed in a plane crash in 1967, his wife, Grace, took . 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. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. 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 burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Its a brand built on pride, care, and love. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. ! Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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.