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. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. 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. Harmon Dobson died in a plane crash in 1967, and his widow, Grace (whose first date with Harmon was at Whataburger #3, in Corpus), ran things until the first outsider, Jim Peterson, took over in the early seventies. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. [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. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Leave them blank to get signed up. Verify and try again. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. [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. Peterson resigned in 1993. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. 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. Unflinching, she steadfastly refused. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. GREAT NEWS! One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. 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. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. Loved this article! The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. 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. I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. harmon dobson plane crash. . September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. ). 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. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. 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 email does not appear to be a valid email address. Some people are legendary because of what they have done, but others and perhaps the most important ones, are legendary because of who they are. 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. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. 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. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . Great article! Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Learn more about merges. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. 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. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. Dobson, who was an avid pilot, was inspired by his time in sky, designed the orange and white striped A-frame store in Odessa, Texas, in 1961. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. 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. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. 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. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. 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. The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. The main reason for the move was for oil. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Angel crashed fifteen times before meeting his demise, but it only took Dobson four wrecks to wake up and realize the diamond business might prove fatal. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. You can always change this later in your Account settings. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. In part because of its regional statusof the nearly 800 current Whataburger locations, more than 600 are in Texasthe chain inspires a combination of pride and loyalty among many Texans. In addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. And never forgetting where we started. Spicing Things Up: Whataburger Buffalo Ranch Chicken Lineup Returns for a Limited Time, Get Ready for More Bold Flavors: Whataburger is Growing in Memphis, Whataburger Celebrates One Year of Delicious Dining in Colorful Colorado, MyWhataburger Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. 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. 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. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The story of Dobson was well written here. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. Learn more about managing a memorial . based on information from your browser. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. 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 hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Dobson faced financial challenges. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. 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. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. 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. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. Try again later. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Its competition is McDonalds and Wendys, not a boutique operation with three locations that offers grass-fed-bison burgers topped with arugula on a gluten-free bun. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. [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. By March 5, the couple was married. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. Add to your scrapbook. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. 0 cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA. 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Harmon Dobson died in a plane crash in 1967, and his widow, Grace (whose first date with Harmon was at Whataburger #3, in Corpus), ran things until the first outsider, Jim Peterson, took. No major injuries were reported when a Boston-bound plane carrying more than 20 people struck a fence and erupted in flames while taking off at Houston Executive Airport on Tuesday morning,. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. More than seven decades ago, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, What a burger! He named his humble burger stand, located on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, Whataburger.. After World War II ended in 1945, Dobson returned home to his home state of Arkansas, where he worked buying and selling used cars. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. 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. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Try again later. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. By 1967, business was booming. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . Lawrence Jagmin, of . Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. Its a place people count on in their communities. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. 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. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . 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. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Through the years, she also served in numerous philanthropic capacities including working for the USO, Coastal Bend Youth City, the Kidney Foundation and the Texas State Aquarium. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. 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. 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. Resend Activation Email. This is a carousel with slides.
Tokyo Ramen Morris Plains, 1970s Fatal Car Accidents, Articles H