On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. The Crash of United Flight 232 - Popular Mechanics 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. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. This account has been disabled. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. The main reason for the move was for oil. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Search above to list available cemeteries. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. [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. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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 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. Try again later. 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. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. This is a carousel with slides. Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger 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. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. 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 She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. 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. Whataburgers affairs were more and more being turned over to the professionals, all of whom wanted to participate in what by now had ceased to be a family business and had become simply a large corporate entity, WOA claims in its lawsuit. Born:? 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. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Beechcraft Model 18. At the end of 1980, Whataburger opened its 300th restaurant. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. 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,. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. 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. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Try again later. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Plane hit power line before crash near Edmonton that killed well-known 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. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. 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. 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. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Andrews developed a close relationship with Dobson; he even coined the companys popular slogan, We build a bigger, better burger., Today, those oversized burgers and the promise of fresh ingredients generate annual sales of $1.8 billion, making Whataburger the thirty-third-largest restaurant chain in the countryand the second-largest founded and based in Texas, after Chilis. A system error has occurred. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. Try again later. 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.. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. 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. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial 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. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. 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. 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. They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. 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. Ricky Nelson and Six Others Die As Their Plane Crashes in Texas On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Lady Grace and the Whataburger Legend - Texasliving Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. His parents had reason to worry. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. 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. 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. ! Police found two dead people inside the. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. Tom Dobson. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. Add to your scrapbook. August 20, 1989. 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. 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. Its a place people count on in their communities. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. ), 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. Decades-old military plane wreckage found in Alaska glacier, may give He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. Whatabattle! - Texas Monthly 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. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. 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. GREAT NEWS! An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. Try again. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. 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. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. The story of Dobson was well written here. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. based on information from your browser. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. 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. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. Angel was a bit more adventurous than Dobson, though both crashed several times in Africa while mining for diamonds. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. The first Whataburger was served 66 years ago today in South Texas - mySA My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, 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. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. 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. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. 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. Being proud of everything we do. 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. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. 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. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. 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. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. There was an error deleting this problem. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. 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. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business.
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