A system error has occurred. I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Because of World War II, auto manufacturing plants had been repurposed to produce wartime products. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. 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. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. [4] Burton and Harmon decided that Burton would own the Whataburger franchises in San Antonio, Texas, while Harmon would own the rest of the company and its franchises. Please enter your email and password to sign in. The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. Oops, something didn't work. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. Beechcraft Model 18. 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. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. In addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. By 1967, business was booming. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. The plane was bound for Love Field in Dallas when it went down at 5:16 P.M. according to Mitch Barket, a Federal Aviation Admistration spokesman. 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. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. 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. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . Dobson faced financial challenges. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. 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. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. 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. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. 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. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. 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. At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? 1 of 6. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. 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. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. 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. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Learn more about merges. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Restaurant Owners Condition: -- Price: US $10.00 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: US $4.99Standard Shipping | See details Located in: Memphis, Tennessee, United States Delivery: In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Year should not be greater than current year. 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. 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. 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. DeLaughters Is the Little Grocery Store That Could, The Daughter of a Barbecue Family Takes Tradition in a New Direction, The Old Orange Cafe Is a Piece of Local History, Gen Zs Homemade Tortillas Could Use an Upgrade. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. ). You can always change this later in your Account settings. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. 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. 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. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 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! August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. 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. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade.