Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. 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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. 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. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. Loved this article! Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. This is a carousel with slides. There is a problem with your email/password. Sorry! Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . The main reason for the move was for oil. In our eighth decade, we entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding our restaurant footprint to 14 states. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Franchisees also sued over a mandatory rebate plan, which WOA claims amounted to forcing vendors to pay illegal rebates, kickbacks, and bribes to Whataburger and its executives. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. It was interesting to me reading about the founder of this fast food chain Whtaburger, and all the dedication he put towards his work, I think is very tragic and unfortunate the way Dobson died, he would have accomplished much more succeses during his life time. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. 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. 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. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. [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. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. 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. Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. For the Andrews family, this shift in corporate culture first became apparent two years ago, when it told the company headquarters, which had moved from Corpus to San Antonio in 2009, that it wanted to open a new store in Laredo. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Whataburger had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. Wikipedia. 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. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. ), 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. 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. Were honored today to just say . If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. You can count real friends on one hand. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Unfortunately, Coy was protective of Grace and had warned her about dating his unsettled, gallivanting brother. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. He was not afraid to tell people if they did not meet his standards.. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. Early life [ edit] Peterson resigned in 1993. GREAT NEWS! In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. "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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. The Whataburger, however, was a whopping quarter pound of fresh grilled beef loaded with fresh vegetables and served on a 5-inch bun, and in 1950 there was nothing like it. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson (October 8, 1913 - April 11, 1967) was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Born:? 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. This was a very interesting story to tell! Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Learn more about managing a memorial . Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? harmon dobson plane crash. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. 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.. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. 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. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. A system error has occurred. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. The main reason for the move was for oil. It amazes me how many people talk about whataburger and that those burgers are probably the best they have ever tried because of their unique taste, but I have never tasted one. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. 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. 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. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. 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. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. I enjoyed reading the little journal entries included in this article because it makes it more unique and gives it a more personal feeling to what Dobson had been feeling and thinking as he was starting up Whataburger. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. in 2013. This account has been disabled. Its a place people count on in their communities. We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Try again later. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. 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. Wow! 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 while we now serve hot, fresh food at more than 890 Whataburgers across the country, that burger stand in Corpus Christi is never far from our hearts. 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. 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. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. 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 There were nine crew members on board. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore.
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