The first Whataburger was served 66 years ago today in South Texas - mySA A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. There is a problem with your email/password. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. "But through all of their giving and the charitable things that they did for the community and the state of Texas it glowed down on her anyway. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. A system error has occurred. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. 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. Tom Dobson. The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . 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 am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Whataburger has been highly successful in a very competitive market, says Stephen Barth, a professor of law and leadership at the University of Houstons Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Dobson lived in the same modest house at Santa Fe Street and Meldo Park Drive for years, maintaining a close relationship with her children, grandchildren and friends, Sheka said. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Business Nationality: United States Executive summary: CEO of Whataburger Father: Harmon A. Dobson (Whataburger founder, d. 1967, plane crash) Mother: Grace (d. 1-Sep-2005) Brother: Hugh Sister: Lynne Whataburger President (1993-2007) Whataburger CEO (1993-) George W. Bush for President Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. 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. Montana family mourning loss of pilot | ParkRecord.com The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. Please enter your email and password to sign in. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. Sorry! 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. 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. Amanda's Corpus Christi History: Plane Crash - Blogger Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Oops, we were unable to send the email. . 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. Plane hit power line before crash near Edmonton that killed well-known There are no volunteers for this cemetery. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [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. During this time he traveled to North Africa where he helped build a U.S. Navy base and worked on airplane hangars, radio towers, tanks, and whatever else the Navy needed. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. The prosperity lasted until 1967 when Dobson and his friend Gene Crane were killed in a plane crash in La Porte, where they had stopped to refuel. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! Its a brand built on pride, care, and love. 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. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. The story of Dobson was well written here. Rocky Mountain House airport manager one of 2 dead in plane crash - CBC The. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. By March 5, the couple was married. So proud & so tired.17. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. 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. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. 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. But the rift between the Andrews family and the burger chain they helped build represents a struggle between the past and the present, and between two families who have known each other for a long time. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. Harmon Dobson - Wikiwand 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. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. Great job on your article Courtney! 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. I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. . It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! 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. Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. There were nine crew members on board. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. ). However, Dobson found success to be lonely. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. You can count real friends on one hand. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. Verify and try again. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. GREAT NEWS! Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. Dobson filled that need by buying used autos from urban areas like Detroit, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and selling them back in Batesville for huge profits. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle The main reason for the move was for oil. This is such a great topic! Ricky Nelson and Six Others Die As Their Plane Crashes in Texas (Dobson remains as chairman.) If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 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. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. Try again later. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. Search above to list available cemeteries. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. She was infuriated that people were telling her to sell off her husbands dream and just enjoy the money. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Angel was a bit more adventurous than Dobson, though both crashed several times in Africa while mining for diamonds. A Montana family is mourning the loss of their husband, father and grandfather this week after the 50-year-old man crashed in an airplane in Summit County while flying solo along a route he knew well. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. I share with Whataburger employees how my brothers and I would have 35 cent Whataburgers from the original Ayers street store before going to the picture show. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service.
