He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. This was a very interesting story to tell! Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. . So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. And never forgetting where we started. The story of Dobson was well written here. 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. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. Benefits. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. 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. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 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. We have set your language to Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. . It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. Its competition is McDonalds and Wendys, not a boutique operation with three locations that offers grass-fed-bison burgers topped with arugula on a gluten-free bun. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. 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. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. 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. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Police found two dead people inside the. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Wow! 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. 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. As a standard for mythical tall tales and legends, it comes as no surprise that Texas holds the national corner on stories of lost treasure. 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. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. This is a carousel with slides. 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. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. 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. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. There was an error deleting this problem. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. 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. This plane was easy to spot as it towed a Whataburger banner in the air and blared its duck-like airhorn.9, After every flight, business would do well. harmon dobson plane crash. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. 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. Treating our customers right. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? ). Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. 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. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. 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. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. 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. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. 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 location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. There were nine crew members on board. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. 1967. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Were honored today to just say . Year should not be greater than current year. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. Fifty years after standing in line at the first Whataburger where he made friends with Grace Dobson, local businessmen Robert Adler was on hand earlier this year when his friend "Lady Grace" threw out the first pitch at the opening of Whataburger Field. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. . There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Thank God for his drunken partners actions which led him to leave the oil business, otherwise, we wouldnt get to experience the beloved food of Whataburger! In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Today, more than seven-hundred of the distinctive orange and white WHATABURGER restaurants can be found in eleven states, and total more than $1billion is sales annually. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. (Dobson remains as chairman.) Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. 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. All three work hard to ensure that Whataburger never strays from their fathers original concept, which was to serve hungry people great food in a clean and friendly environment. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. 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. 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. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . 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. This tiny burger stand offered something people had never seen: a burger that was so big, they had to hold its five-inch bun with two hands. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. This plane was easy to spot as it towed a Whataburger banner in the air and blared its duck-like airhorn.9, After every flight, business would do well. Make sure that the file is a photo. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. 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. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. 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. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. Please reset your password. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. [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. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Oops, we were unable to send the email. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . 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. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. 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. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. 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 burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. So proud & so tired.17. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. Great job on your article Courtney! By 1967, business was booming. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. 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. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. based on information from your browser. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . His parents had reason to worry. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. 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. 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. The. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. I found this sad and interesting. harmon dobson plane crash. At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Peterson resigned in 1993. Early life [ edit] [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. A system error has occurred. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Harmon Dobson was sixteen years old on Black Friday, but this first Black Friday was no shopping extravaganza: it marked the most devastating stock market crash in United States history. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. 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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 200 RESTAURANTS AND GROWING. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger.
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