The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. We have set your language to Great article! A system error has occurred. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. 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. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. The. By 1949, Dobson was done with diamonds and began searching for a safe place to land. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. After experiencing numerous losses that caused him to lose over $5,000, Dobson returned to the U.S. Dobson began by doing dozens of quick auto deals before returning to Texas to scout for oil. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. And never forgetting where we started. In addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. 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 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. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Were not making much profit but at least they are going fast for our product.7, August 12, 1950- Big Day 141.80 What a workhouse 551 hamburgers.8, Dobson realized the presentation of his burgers mattered. 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! He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Andrews developed a close relationship with Dobson; he even coined the companys popular slogan, We build a bigger, better burger., Today, those oversized burgers and the promise of fresh ingredients generate annual sales of $1.8 billion, making Whataburger the thirty-third-largest restaurant chain in the countryand the second-largest founded and based in Texas, after Chilis. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. The wreckage of a military plane found this month on an Alaska glacier is that of an Air Force plane that crashed in 1952, killing all 52 people aboard, military officials said Wednesday. harmon dobson plane crash. Try again. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. Benefits. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. ). You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. 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. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. There were nine crew members on board. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Failed to delete memorial. Written by: Rebecca Canfield | Photos Courtesy of: Whataburger. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. 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. 1 of 6. The Whataburger Jr. was added to the menu, as were jalapeos and onion rings. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. 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. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. 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. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. There is a problem with your email/password. 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. After handling freight to pay for his travel, nineteen-year-old Abel Head Pierce, a native of Little Compton, Rhode Island, landed at the Texas port of Indianola five months after leaving home. Insiders still refer to this time in the companys history as the dead zone. Profits fell as the company overreached by opening stores in saturated markets like Las Vegas and adding menu items, like popcorn shrimp salad, that customers didnt want. Andrews, a longtime friend of Whataburger founder Harmon Dobsons, wasnt simply the companys first franchisee, he was its most successful, opening dozens of locations in Texas and helping the chain build its reputation. 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. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. 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. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . Try again later. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. 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. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. This was a very interesting story to tell! There was an error deleting this problem. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. It was interesting to me reading about the founder of this fast food chain Whtaburger, and all the dedication he put towards his work, I think is very tragic and unfortunate the way Dobson died, he would have accomplished much more succeses during his life time. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. 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. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. There was a problem getting your location. It was fascinating to see that the burger/fast food chain that Dobson created (along with other people) would end up becoming the most notable food item in Texas. 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. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. 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. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. 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. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Franchisees also sued over a mandatory rebate plan, which WOA claims amounted to forcing vendors to pay illegal rebates, kickbacks, and bribes to Whataburger and its executives. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. 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. Police found two dead people inside the. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. 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. 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. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. 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. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Sorry! In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. He was able to please his customers with a five-inch burger by making special arrangements with the Rainbo Bread Company to develop five-inch buns, which were an inch larger than the standard bun. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. By March 5, the couple was married. So proud & so tired.17. I found this sad and interesting. The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. The other victims were identified by the Texas . 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. [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. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. ! Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. Police say the Harmon Rocket a two-seat sport plane caught fire after the crash, and both a man and a woman were found deceased inside the aircraft. 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. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Wikipedia. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. [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. This is a great article and very informative! cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. Oops, something didn't work. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. 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. Also on the board were Sam W. Main who was vice president, Laneil Andert who was secretary, Ray F. Miller who was treasurer, and Roscoe Smith and Tom E. Dobson as board members.13 During this time, Grace usually avoided the spotlight, but she attended almost every company event. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. based on information from your browser. 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. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. 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. 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. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. 200 RESTAURANTS AND GROWING. The beloved Nickel Mugnow a classic piece of Americanadebuted as a promotion which was supposed to last 1-year but ended up running for 14. [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. 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. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. [4] Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. Please try again later. His parents had reason to worry. In our eighth decade, we entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding our restaurant footprint to 14 states. 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. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Were honored today to just say . 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. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? After World War II ended in 1945, Dobson returned home to his home state of Arkansas, where he worked buying and selling used cars. Failed to report flower. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . 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. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. In fact, people love representing Whataburger so much, they rush out to get the latest Whataburger swag: from Whataburger sunglasses to Whataburger sneakers, t-shirts, sweaters, and hats. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. 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 number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! Peterson resigned in 1993. New specialty items included the Whataburger Patty Melt and the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. 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. 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. 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.

Is Cindi Bigelow Married, Articles H