Please try again later. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. 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 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. So proud & so tired.17. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. This is a great article and very informative! Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. 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. The other victims were identified by the Texas . I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. [5][9], "Deep in the Heart: Whataburger's Long History of Success and Brand Identity", "Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harmon_Dobson&oldid=1103833486, This page was last edited on 11 August 2022, at 05:01. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. ! This was a very interesting story as I am always buying Whataburger and hear that is was once a family restaurant but never really took the time to read and learn about the story. 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. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. 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. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. Everyone expected Grace, now twice widowed, to crumble, and they encouraged her to sell Whataburger. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. Verify and try again. 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. The main reason for the move was for oil. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This was a very interesting story to tell! In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. 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. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. After he was killed in a plane crash in 1967, his wife, Grace, took . Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! 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. 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 At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. 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. 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. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. 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. 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. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. I'm going to miss her, too." Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. 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 main reason for the move was for oil. 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. When everyone told Grace to just let go, the love of her husband and the desire to honor a promise propelled her forward into uncharted territory as she fought to keep the Whataburger legacy alive. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. 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. Try again later. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. Try again. Great article! The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. Unflinching, she steadfastly refused. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. Harmon never lived to see his shack become a regional burger empire; he died in a plane crash in 1967. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Neither Whataburger nor Whataburger of Alice would be what it is today without the other. Leave them blank to get signed up. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Geographical origins Be the first to post a memory or condolences. 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. 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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. 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. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. (Dobson remains as chairman.) She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Hugh Dobson; a daughter, Lynne Dobson; three sisters, Lola Stettler, Louise Abbot and Jean Florie; and five grandchildren. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. A system error has occurred. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. 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 University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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 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. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. harmon dobson plane crash. Oops, we were unable to send the email. ), 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. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. More than seven decades ago, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, What a burger! He named his humble burger stand, located on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, Whataburger.. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Its a brand built on pride, care, and love. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. His parents had reason to worry. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. 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. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Treating our customers right. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Try again later. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. In 2017 alone, Whataburger partnered with over 600 charities across its ten-state service area, donating over $5 million. 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. [4] Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom.