He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. Amanda's Corpus Christi History: Plane Crash - Blogger Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Police found two dead people inside the. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Tom Dobson. Angel crashed fifteen times before meeting his demise, but it only took Dobson four wrecks to wake up and realize the diamond business might prove fatal. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. 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. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. Great job on your article Courtney! That someone was Harmon Dobson, and that chain is Whataburger, which he started in a Corpus Christi shack in 1950, and which today numbers some 700 restaurants, the majority of them still in Texas. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. 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 brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. 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. 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. Fifty years after standing in line at the first Whataburger where he made friends with Grace Dobson, local businessmen Robert Adler was on hand earlier this year when his friend "Lady Grace" threw out the first pitch at the opening of Whataburger Field. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. There was an error deleting this problem. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. The wreckage of a military plane found this month on an Alaska glacier is that of an Air Force plane that crashed in 1952, killing all 52 people aboard, military officials said Wednesday. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. Were honored today to just say . Lady Grace and the Whataburger Legend - Texasliving During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. This plane was easy to spot as it towed a Whataburger banner in the air and blared its duck-like airhorn.9, After every flight, business would do well. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Please enter your email and password to sign in. There were nine crew members on board. 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. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Really great article. 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. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Treating our customers right. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. 200 RESTAURANTS AND GROWING. Harmon never lived to see his shack become a regional burger empire; he died in a plane crash in 1967. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Decades-old military plane wreckage found in Alaska glacier, may give The Transportation Safety Board says a plane that crashed last year southwest of Edmonton killing the two people on board, had collided with a power line.. 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 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. [6] According to witnesses, Dobson was apparently taking off in a steep climb when both engines on the plane failed at around 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30m) in the sky and then plummeted back into the ground. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. Early life [ edit] Some people are legendary because of what they have done, but others and perhaps the most important ones, are legendary because of who they are. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. 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. Being proud of everything we do. In addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. This plane was easy to spot as it towed a Whataburger banner in the air and blared its duck-like airhorn.9, After every flight, business would do well. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-124C Globemaster II 52-1062 Try again later. The first Whataburger was served 66 years ago today in South Texas - mySA 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. I'm going to miss her, too." The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. 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. At least 2 injuries reported after plane crash in Houston, Texas - CNN Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. 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. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Peterson resigned in 1993. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Two die after small plane crashes in field southwest of Edmonton 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. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Failed to report flower. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. "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. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. After experiencing numerous losses that caused him to lose over $5,000, Dobson returned to the U.S. Dobson began by doing dozens of quick auto deals before returning to Texas to scout for oil. 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. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business.
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