Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. 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. 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. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Harmon Dobson - Google Search 1 of 6. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. Family members linked to this person will appear here. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. Weve updated the security on the site. Two people killed in plane crash near Thorsby: RCMP Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. The larger burgers that could be found back in the 1950s were served on 4-inch buns. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. Tom Dobson - NNDB To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. 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. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Contents 1 Early life 2 Whataburger 3 Death 4 References Early life Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Great article! Be the first to post a memory or condolences. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. Harmon Dobson - Wikipedia The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). 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. Pilot killed in crash near Thorsby remembered as 'skilled, beloved Please reset your password. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. 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. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. Failed to remove flower. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. (Dobson remains as chairman.) The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. 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. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. Tom Harmon is Missing | University of Michigan Heritage Project However, Dobson was already looking to move on to bigger ventures. 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. She was very excited about that." 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. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. A system error has occurred. Dobson then bounced around a lot after that work on the Suez Canal in Egypt, and then in Bahrain where he was in charge of a construction of a mess hall. By March 5, the couple was married. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. 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. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Rocky Mountain House airport manager one of 2 dead in plane crash - CBC Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. Oops, something didn't work. Insiders still refer to this time in the companys history as the dead zone. Profits fell as the company overreached by opening stores in saturated markets like Las Vegas and adding menu items, like popcorn shrimp salad, that customers didnt want. 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. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. Oops, we were unable to send the email. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. Statue of the Founder of Whataburger, Corpus Christi, Texas Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. 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. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. Ford Heights plane crash: Small plane crashes near I-394 and Lincoln 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. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. During Hurricane Harvey, Whataburger rallied around the Corpus Christi community and quickly began rebuilding and fundraising efforts. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. 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. 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. based on information from your browser. The story of Dobson was well written here. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. At the end of 1980, Whataburger opened its 300th restaurant. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. And never forgetting where we started. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. Whatabusiness! - Texas Monthly Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. You can count real friends on one hand. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. This account has been disabled. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. 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 memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Great article! By 1967, business was booming. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. 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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. Grace Dobson Obituary (2005) - Corpus Christi, TX - Corpus-Christi This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. 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. 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. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. On July 19, 1989, one of the most dramatic events in aviation unfolded in the skies over Iowa as heroic pilots battled to land a crippled DC-10. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. 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. It was also surprising to me that Whataburgers exists in other states. 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. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Lady Grace and the Whataburger Legend - Texasliving 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. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. 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. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . in 2013. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Year should not be greater than current year. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Dobson faced financial challenges. Great job on your article Courtney! Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Early life [ edit] 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. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. You have funeral questions, we have answers. From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. Sorry! On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. The plane was bound for Love Field in Dallas when it went down at 5:16 P.M. according to Mitch Barket, a Federal Aviation Admistration spokesman. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. harmon dobson plane crash. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . 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. 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. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. The first Whataburger was served 66 years ago today in South Texas - mySA Montana family mourning loss of pilot | ParkRecord.com 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. 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. The other victims were identified by the Texas . Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Failed to report flower. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Decades-old military plane wreckage found in Alaska glacier, may give Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Victim Dies of Injuries Sustained in Crash of Flight 232 They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. 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. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. 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. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. There was a problem getting your location. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. 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 Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. It hurts the brand ultimately.. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. Growing up during the onset of the Great Depression, the Dobson family had few resources, but plenty of food at a time when food meant everything. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home.