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. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. Try again later. Geographical origins 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. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Try again later. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Later, he went to Egypt and worked on the Suez Canal. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. GREAT NEWS! It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. During Hurricane Harvey, Whataburger rallied around the Corpus Christi community and quickly began rebuilding and fundraising efforts. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. After hearing from a friend in Houston that Texas was teeming with both cars and oil, Dobson, whose business ventures now had him traveling halfway across the U.S., purchased a private plane and learned to fly it. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. 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. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Harmon Archibald Dobson (October 8, 1913 - April 11, 1967) [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Failed to remove flower. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. Benefits. 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. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . 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. 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! The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? 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. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. 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.. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. 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. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-124C Globemaster II 52-1062 Ford Heights plane crash: Small plane crashes near I-394 and Lincoln Peterson resigned in 1993. Add to your scrapbook. 1 of 6. Dobson faced financial challenges. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. 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. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . I found it very interesting that they are still selling the same tasty burgers they sold in 1950 at their first restaurant in Corpus Christi. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. Treating our customers right. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. 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. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. based on information from your browser. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Amanda's Corpus Christi History: Plane Crash - Blogger Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. 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. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. 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. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. Lady Grace and the Whataburger Legend - Texasliving Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. At least 2 injuries reported after plane crash in Houston, Texas - CNN By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. The likeness of Andrews, wearing a cowboy hat and mounted on a limestone pedestal, was commissioned to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the oldest franchise of the iconic Texas burger chain. This account has been disabled. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Today, more than seven-hundred of the distinctive orange and white WHATABURGER restaurants can be found in eleven states, and total more than $1billion is sales annually. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Please try again later. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. Police found two dead people inside the. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. Statue of the Founder of Whataburger, Corpus Christi, Texas Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. Early life [ edit] The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. In addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Our Story TGFF Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. By 1967, business was booming. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. List of fatalities from aviation accidents - Wikipedia The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. Joe Andrews Sr. died in 1999, and his son, Joe Jr., took overand then died suddenly three years later while attending a Whataburger conference in New Orleans. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. 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. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. You have funeral questions, we have answers. In our eighth decade, we entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding our restaurant footprint to 14 states. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. 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. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. Great article! By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. 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. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. 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. 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. Harmon Dobson - Google Search Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. 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. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson.



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