In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. Try again later. 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. There were nine crew members on board. 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. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! 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. Contents 1 Early life 2 Whataburger 3 Death 4 References Early life based on information from your browser. Treating our customers right. The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. 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. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. What disappointed Harmon most about this era was the news that although he was accepted to the University of Missouri to study journalism, he would never graduate. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. At age 16, Dobson was accepted into the University of Missouri to study journalism, but was forced to return to his family farm soon after attending due to a family crisis at home due to the Great Depression. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. 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. Failed to delete memorial. 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. I found this sad and interesting. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. 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. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. harmon dobson plane crash. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. Really great article. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. 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. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. 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. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. The agreement stipulated that if Andrewss company identified a location in the three counties that it wanted to develop, Whataburger was obligated to approve the franchise. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. And it is crazy to think how it was once only 35 cents and burger and not they are like 4-5 bucks for the same burger that they sold back then. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. 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. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. [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. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. Beechcraft Model 18. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. 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. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. By March 5, the couple was married. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Geographical origins Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. Sorry! 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 company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. She was very excited about that." On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In fact, people love representing Whataburger so much, they rush out to get the latest Whataburger swag: from Whataburger sunglasses to Whataburger sneakers, t-shirts, sweaters, and hats. Yet, I find it insane that Dobson died so tragically and unexpectedly before he could see his fast food chain truly flourish and gain a big following from many Texans and others from different states. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. Oops, something didn't work. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. 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. On April 11, 1967, at around 4:30 p.m., Dobson and his business associate Luther John Sneed took off in Dobson's Cessna Skymaster from an airport in LaPorte heading for Victoria, Texas. However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. 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. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. On June 23, 1950, the Texas Secretary of State office granted Dobson the trademark for Whataburger. Dobson then invested more time and more effort into developing the first Whatabuger.4, Eventually, on August 8, 1950, Dobson opened and sold his first Whataburger through the window of a little portable building. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. 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. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. 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. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. 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. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. According to the lawsuit, Reese met with Atkinson, who told her that despite the agreement, Whataburger didnt believe it was obligated to approve new sites and that it could veto any sites that the franchisee selected. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. 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. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. Weve updated the security on the site. . The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. Verify and try again. Leave them blank to get signed up. 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. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. 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. 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. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. This is the era in which country music legend Mel Tillis started appearing in television commercials for the company, a role that would continue through the 80s. By 1949, Dobson was done with diamonds and began searching for a safe place to land. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. Try again later. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. The other victims were identified by the Texas . 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. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. Peterson resigned in 1993. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The main reason for the move was for oil. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Early life [ edit] Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. 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. Please reset your password. Great article! 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 hurts the brand ultimately.. A system error has occurred. 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. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The lawsuit, filed in San Antonio in March, traces the roots of the dispute to the earliest days of the Whataburger chain, which Dobson founded in 1950 after stints in shipbuilding, oil drilling, and diamond trading. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. [6] According to witnesses, Dobson was apparently taking off in a steep climb when both engines on the plane failed at around 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30m) in the sky and then plummeted back into the ground. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Loved this article! By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. (Dobson remains as chairman.) 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. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . Make sure that the file is a photo. After World War II ended in 1945, Dobson returned home to his home state of Arkansas, where he worked buying and selling used cars. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. 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 fascinating to see that the burger/fast food chain that Dobson created (along with other people) would end up becoming the most notable food item in Texas. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Resend Activation Email. ), When most Whataburger customers walk into the restaurant, they have no idea if the place they are eating at is a franchise or a corporate-owned branch. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. The story of Dobson was well written here. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. I always found it kind of weird that Whataburger has mostly been a Texas obsession and it amazes me that when they expanded to Memphis and Las Vegas, business declined. Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Angel was a bit more adventurous than Dobson, though both crashed several times in Africa while mining for diamonds. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. The beloved Nickel Mugnow a classic piece of Americanadebuted as a promotion which was supposed to last 1-year but ended up running for 14. Failed to remove flower. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? However, Dobson found success to be lonely. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Lawrence Jagmin, of . However, Dobson was already looking to move on to bigger ventures. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. ! Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. harmon dobson plane crash. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Whataburger dismisses WOAs allegations, saying the suit contains serious misstatements and baseless speculation. (Whataburger and WOA and their attorneys declined to be interviewed for this story. in 2013. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. [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. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. 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 place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. During Hurricane Harvey, Whataburger rallied around the Corpus Christi community and quickly began rebuilding and fundraising efforts. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . 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 burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. 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. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Great job on your article Courtney! A Douglas C-124C Globemaster II plane, serial 52-1062, was damaged beyond repair in an accident 10 km from Stephenville-Harmon AFB, NL (YJT), Canada. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered.