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. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 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. 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. There is a problem with your email/password. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Grace Dobson Obituary (2005) - Corpus Christi, TX - Corpus-Christi Great job on your article Courtney! Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. 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. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . Make sure that the file is a photo. . It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. Verify and try again. Oops, something didn't work. Year should not be greater than current year. The Texas burger landscape is more competitive than ever, thanks to an influx of regional mini-chains such as Austins P. Terrys, the Metroplexs Twisted Root Burger Co., and Houstons Becks Prime and smaller national chains such as Smashburger, Five Guys, and Shake Shack. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. 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. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. Thanks for your help! Add to your scrapbook. Try again. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. List of fatalities from aviation accidents - Wikipedia [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. Dobson faced financial challenges. Please reset your password. I found this sad and interesting. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. 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. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. Its a brand built on pride, care, and love. 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. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Failed to delete memorial. All three work hard to ensure that Whataburger never strays from their fathers original concept, which was to serve hungry people great food in a clean and friendly environment. Everyone expected Grace, now twice widowed, to crumble, and they encouraged her to sell Whataburger. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. The story begins in 1950, when Harmon Dobson, an Arkansas native, came to Texas with dreams of making it big in the oil business, but instead prospered in big burgers, opening the first Whataburger stand in Corpus Christi in August of that year. 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. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. You can count real friends on one hand. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. 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. Resend Activation Email. 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. 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. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. In short, Whataburger made it very plain that its position is that Whataburger never intended WOA would have the benefits that the 1993 Agreement clearly states that it does, the lawsuit says. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. 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. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. I'm going to miss her, too." This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. However, Dobson was already looking to move on to bigger ventures. 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. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. This account has been disabled. 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. 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. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Plane hit power line before crash near Edmonton that killed well-known 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. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. 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. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. 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.. 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 - Wikiwand 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. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. In addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. 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: 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. 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. 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. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. 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. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. ). Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. This is a carousel with slides. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. 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. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. 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. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. 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. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Were honored today to just say . 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. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. 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. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. 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. There was a problem getting your location. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. His parents had reason to worry. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. Ricky Nelson and Six Others Die As Their Plane Crashes in Texas Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day.