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. . By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. 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. Later, he went to Egypt and worked on the Suez Canal. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. This is a great article and very informative! Everyone expected Grace, now twice widowed, to crumble, and they encouraged her to sell Whataburger. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Unflinching, she steadfastly refused. 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. Because of World War II, auto manufacturing plants had been repurposed to produce wartime products. So proud & so tired.17. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. When he opened the first stand, on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, he envisioned selling a burger big enough that it would take two hands to hold it. 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. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. That someone was Harmon Dobson, and that chain is Whataburger, which he started in a Corpus Christi shack in 1950, and which today numbers some 700 restaurants, the majority of them still in Texas. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. harmon dobson plane crash. 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 Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. 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. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. In exchange, his company got renewed assurances of its exclusive rights to develop stores in Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties and locked in a royalty rate lower than that assigned to other franchisees. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. Tom Dobson. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. [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. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. Lawrence Jagmin, of . 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. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. Were not making much profit but at least they are going fast for our product.7, August 12, 1950- Big Day 141.80 What a workhouse 551 hamburgers.8, Dobson realized the presentation of his burgers mattered. 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. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. [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. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. By 1967, business was booming. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. The story of Dobson was well written here. Failed to delete memorial. The main reason for the move was for oil. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. 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 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. 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. 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. Great article! On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Try again later. 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. 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. August 20, 1989. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Being proud of everything we do. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. 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. 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. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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. Dobson was a notorious bachelor, but he had always liked a beautiful young widow he met at the C.I.T. Credit Corporation in Batesville during his auto dealing years. 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. There were nine crew members on board. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. This account has been disabled. Weve updated the security on the site. The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). 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. It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . By March 5, the couple was married. Angel was a bit more adventurous than Dobson, though both crashed several times in Africa while mining for diamonds. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. 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. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. The main reason for the move was for oil. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. Following that, he worked at the New York Shipbuilding Company, which, at the time, was the worlds largest boat-builder for the U.S. Navy. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. 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. in 2013. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. 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. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. Great job on your article Courtney! Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? 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. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. In 1952 Andrews, who lived in Alice, brought his family to eat at the Kingsville branch and was so impressed that he contacted Dobson about buying a franchise. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. Police found two dead people inside the. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. 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. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. I found this sad and interesting. After World War II ended in 1945, Dobson returned home to his home state of Arkansas, where he worked buying and selling used cars. After her husband died, Grace Dobson surrounded herself with a management team, became chairwoman of the board and grew the business to more than 600 company-owned and franchised stores - and raised three children as a single parent. Learn more about managing a memorial . ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. Really great article. 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. 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. After experiencing numerous losses that caused him to lose over $5,000, Dobson returned to the U.S. Dobson began by doing dozens of quick auto deals before returning to Texas to scout for oil. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. 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. 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. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Saturday, May 24, 2014 Plane Crash After I went to the library earlier this week, I found something Interesting as I was going through my notes. Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. The. The larger burgers that could be found back in the 1950s were served on 4-inch buns. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. 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.