Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. However, before he found his landing place, he took a detour to Africa where he partnered with friend JimmyAngel, who insisted that there was a lucrative diamond business there. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. 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. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. 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. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . 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. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. I'm going to miss her, too." As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. 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. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Contents 1 Early life 2 Whataburger 3 Death 4 References Early life 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. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. Try again. 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. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. 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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. 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. [4] Burton and Harmon decided that Burton would own the Whataburger franchises in San Antonio, Texas, while Harmon would own the rest of the company and its franchises. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. This browser does not support getting your location. Unwilling to compromise, Dobson offered Burton the keys to his yellow Plymouth convertible and franchise rights to all of San Antonio in exchange for the business. Resend Activation Email. 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. 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. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. 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 struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. 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 airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. 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. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. 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. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. "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. This is a great article and very informative! 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. Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Two summers ago, with the South Texas sun beating down, a group of civic leaders gathered in front of the Whataburger on Main Street in Alice to unveil a bust of the late Joe Andrews Sr. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Being proud of everything we do. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. In 1952 Andrews, who lived in Alice, brought his family to eat at the Kingsville branch and was so impressed that he contacted Dobson about buying a franchise. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. 1 of 6. However, Dobson was already looking to move on to bigger ventures. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. Wikipedia. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. His parents had reason to worry. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. 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 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. 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. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. While her husband, Harmon Dobson, was the one who launched the first Whataburger, it was Lady Grace who clung tightly to her husbands legacy through terrible trials and tragedies. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Boasting 6,000 square feet, stunning water views and a life-size bronze likeness of Harmon Dobson, this flagship restaurant is a fitting tribute to an amazing man. 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. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Beechcraft Model 18. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 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. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. 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. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? DeLaughters Is the Little Grocery Store That Could, The Daughter of a Barbecue Family Takes Tradition in a New Direction, The Old Orange Cafe Is a Piece of Local History, Gen Zs Homemade Tortillas Could Use an Upgrade. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Restaurant Owners Condition: -- Price: US $10.00 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: US $4.99Standard Shipping | See details Located in: Memphis, Tennessee, United States Delivery: And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. 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. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. [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. [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. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Great article! Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. 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. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. Family members linked to this person will appear here. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. Treating our customers right. Try again later. The lawsuit, filed in San Antonio in March, traces the roots of the dispute to the earliest days of the Whataburger chain, which Dobson founded in 1950 after stints in shipbuilding, oil drilling, and diamond trading. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. 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,. 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. harmon dobson plane crash. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. 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. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Because of World War II, auto manufacturing plants had been repurposed to produce wartime products. 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.
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