[4] He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. 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. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. 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. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. 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 I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Please enter your email and password to sign in. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. She was infuriated that people were telling her to sell off her husbands dream and just enjoy the money. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. 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 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. Try again later. 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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. 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. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. harmon dobson plane crash. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . 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. 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. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. in 2013. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Police found two dead people inside the. 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. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. GREAT NEWS! A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. . He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. 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. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. 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. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. 0 cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA. 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 ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. 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. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. 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. 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,. There was a problem getting your location. 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. What disappointed Harmon most about this era was the news that although he was accepted to the University of Missouri to study journalism, he would never graduate. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. 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. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. [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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. At first, Harmon was content to help his parents on the farm, but his wanderlust eventually returned, calling him elsewhere. 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. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. 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. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Joe Andrews Sr. died in 1999, and his son, Joe Jr., took overand then died suddenly three years later while attending a Whataburger conference in New Orleans. 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. 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. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! This browser does not support getting your location. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. You can count real friends on one hand. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. 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. 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. 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. 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. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Early life [ edit] It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. how privileged we are to have been in a partnership with you for this long.. 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. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Try again later. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. 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. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. 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. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. I'm going to miss her, too." 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. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. [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. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. 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. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Make sure that the file is a photo. By March 5, the couple was married. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. 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. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. The story begins in 1950, when Harmon Dobson, an Arkansas native, came to Texas with dreams of making it big in the oil business, but instead prospered in big burgers, opening the first Whataburger stand in Corpus Christi in August of that year. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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. Please try again later. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. 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. Were honored today to just say . The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. Neither Whataburger nor Whataburger of Alice would be what it is today without the other. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Its a place people count on in their communities. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. Being proud of everything we do. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. Really great article. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. 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. During this time he traveled to North Africa where he helped build a U.S. Navy base and worked on airplane hangars, radio towers, tanks, and whatever else the Navy needed. 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. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. 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.