Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. 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. 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. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. To use this feature, use a newer browser. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. Later, he went to Egypt and worked on the Suez Canal. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. 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. A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. Failed to remove flower. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. Family members linked to this person will appear here. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. Learn more about merges. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Make sure that the file is a photo. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. [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. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. This was a very interesting story to tell! H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Thanks for your help! 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. "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. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Neither Whataburger nor Whataburger of Alice would be what it is today without the other. 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. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. !
Include gps location with grave photos where possible. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. Early life [ edit] . 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. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. 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. 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. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. His parents had reason to worry. 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. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. 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. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. Boasting 6,000 square feet, stunning water views and a life-size bronze likeness of Harmon Dobson, this flagship restaurant is a fitting tribute to an amazing man. 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 Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Please reset your password. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. 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. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. You can count real friends on one hand. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. 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. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. 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. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. how privileged we are to have been in a partnership with you for this long.. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. 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. Search above to list available cemeteries. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. 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Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. Peterson resigned in 1993. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. And never forgetting where we started. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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. 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. Add to your scrapbook. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. Today, Whataburger is a big part of Texas culture, and families all over the Lone Star State can say thank you to Harmon Dobson for helping them to celebrate some of the best moments of their lives. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. 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. August 20, 1989. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. 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. 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. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. It was also surprising to me that Whataburgers exists in other states. However, if one thinks about it, if it were not for this incident, Dobson would not have gone down the road that he did to finance Whataburger. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. 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. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. harmon dobson plane crash. Try again. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019.
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