In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. 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 a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. On July 19, 1989, one of the most dramatic events in aviation unfolded in the skies over Iowa as heroic pilots battled to land a crippled DC-10. Whataburger saw a change of leadership for the first time since the 1990s as Tom Dobson, Harmon's son, took over as President and CEO. Early life [ edit] Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. And never forgetting where we started. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Really great article. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. Lawrence Jagmin, of . The main reason for the move was for oil. Treating our customers right. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. 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. (Dobson remains as chairman.) 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. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. There was a problem getting your location. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. The main reason for the move was for oil. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. Wikipedia. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Great article! As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. 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. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. 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. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! 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. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. Wow! 1 of 6. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. [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. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. Oops, something didn't work. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 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,. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. Please reset your password. harmon dobson plane crash. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. 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. 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. 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. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. 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. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. The entire crew bailed out, with Harmon parachuting into a jungle. When everyone told Grace to just let go, the love of her husband and the desire to honor a promise propelled her forward into uncharted territory as she fought to keep the Whataburger legacy alive. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. 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. Verify and try again. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. 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. Were honored today to just say . 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. 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. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . 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. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. By the company's seventh decade, Whataburger had grown from a single burger stand in Corpus Christi to an 800-restaurant chain that spanned every state from Arizona to Florida. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Resend Activation Email. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Whataburger had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. Try again later. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. 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. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. To use this feature, use a newer browser. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the 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. 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. 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. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. The main reason for the move was for oil. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. She was very excited about that." 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: Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. 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. It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. August 20, 1989. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. The beloved Nickel Mugnow a classic piece of Americanadebuted as a promotion which was supposed to last 1-year but ended up running for 14. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. 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. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. At age 16, Dobson was accepted into the University of Missouri to study journalism, but was forced to return to his family farm soon after attending due to a family crisis at home due to the Great Depression. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand.
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