Harmon never lived to see his shack become a regional burger empire; he died in a plane crash in 1967. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. 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. ). Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. [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. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. 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! Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. 0 cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. Sorry! Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. There was an error deleting this problem. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. 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. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. 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. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. Try again later. 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.. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. 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. During Hurricane Harvey, Whataburger rallied around the Corpus Christi community and quickly began rebuilding and fundraising efforts. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Treating our customers right. At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. 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. A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Try again later. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. After World War II ended in 1945, Dobson returned home to his home state of Arkansas, where he worked buying and selling used cars. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. 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. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. 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. Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. 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. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. 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. I share with Whataburger employees how my brothers and I would have 35 cent Whataburgers from the original Ayers street store before going to the picture show. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. 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. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. 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. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. At the end of 1980, Whataburger opened its 300th restaurant. In 2020, Whataburgers 70th anniversary year, curbside pickup and delivery options launched, the companys first food truck was unveiled, and our first new large-unit prototype opened. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Were honored today to just say . Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. 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. Lawrence Jagmin, of . Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. 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. 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. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. 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. 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. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. 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. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. 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. 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. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. 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. 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. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. 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. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. based on information from your browser. 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. By 1967, business was booming. 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. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. Peterson resigned in 1993. Weve updated the security on the site. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. 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. 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. The children grew up working in the restaurants and are still a part of what makes Whataburger great today. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 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. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. This is a carousel with slides. Loved this article! After he was killed in a plane crash in 1967, his wife, Grace, took . However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. 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. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. 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,. The Whataburger Jr. was added to the menu, as were jalapeos and onion rings. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. . August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. 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 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. I always found it kind of weird that Whataburger has mostly been a Texas obsession and it amazes me that when they expanded to Memphis and Las Vegas, business declined. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Earlier this year, Andrewss company, now run by his daughter, Kathy Andrews Reese, sued the restaurant chain, claiming that Whataburger had reneged on a 22-year-old agreement between the two companies. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. 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. 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. 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. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. Benefits. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Failed to report flower. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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 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. Please try again later. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Really great article. 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. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. 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. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. 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. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. Peterson resigned in 1993. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. 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 By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. 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.