Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. 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. in 2013. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. ). I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. 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. [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. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? 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 September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. Oops, something didn't work. You can count real friends on one hand. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. 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. The story of Dobson was well written here. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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.. So proud & so tired.17. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Year should not be greater than current year. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Please reset your password. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. After he was killed in a plane crash in 1967, his wife, Grace, took . Please try again later. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. 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. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. After her husband died, Grace Dobson surrounded herself with a management team, became chairwoman of the board and grew the business to more than 600 company-owned and franchised stores - and raised three children as a single parent. 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 was a very interesting story to tell! Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Peterson resigned in 1993. The. This is a great article and very informative! Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. 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. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. 1967. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. This is such a great topic! 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. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. 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. 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. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . We have set your language to The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. Try again later. By 1967, business was booming. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. 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. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. . 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. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. 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. 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. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. 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. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. 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. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. 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. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. 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. 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. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. 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. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. Police found two dead people inside the. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. [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. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. However, everything changed when Dobson was put in charge of the refinerys mess hall, and it was here that his education in large-scale food service began. 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. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Failed to delete memorial. 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. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 1 of 6. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. ! Dobson lived in the same modest house at Santa Fe Street and Meldo Park Drive for years, maintaining a close relationship with her children, grandchildren and friends, Sheka said. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . Non-family executives, without direct ownership interest in a privately held company, sometimes try to profit from a companys success by heading up a public offering. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. The main reason for the move was for oil. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. 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,. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. I'm going to miss her, too." From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. 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. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. He wanted this burgers to be so delicious that it would make a person yell, What a burger! This inspired the naming of his company. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! 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 pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. 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. On April 11, 1967, at around 4:30 p.m., Dobson and his business associate Luther John Sneed took off in Dobson's Cessna Skymaster from an airport in LaPorte heading for Victoria, Texas. In 2017 alone, Whataburger partnered with over 600 charities across its ten-state service area, donating over $5 million. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. 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. In our eighth decade, we entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding our restaurant footprint to 14 states. 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. Wow! Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. 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. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. 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. 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 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. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. August 20, 1989. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Make sure that the file is a photo. 0 cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA. The main reason for the move was for oil. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Leave them blank to get signed up. The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. Try again later. There was a problem getting your location. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. 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. Dobson faced financial challenges. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. 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.
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