Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. Decades-old military plane wreckage found in Alaska glacier, may give Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The Texas burger landscape is more competitive than ever, thanks to an influx of regional mini-chains such as Austins P. Terrys, the Metroplexs Twisted Root Burger Co., and Houstons Becks Prime and smaller national chains such as Smashburger, Five Guys, and Shake Shack. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . Dobson faced financial challenges. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. So proud & so tired.17. From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. 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. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Peterson resigned in 1993. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) Whatabattle! - Texas Monthly In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. 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. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. Yet, I find it insane that Dobson died so tragically and unexpectedly before he could see his fast food chain truly flourish and gain a big following from many Texans and others from different states. Great job on your article Courtney! Peterson resigned in 1993. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. His parents had reason to worry. 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. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. Whataburger proposed breaking the stalemate by approving the Laredo location only if Reese agreed to relinquish its lower royalty rate and give Whataburger veto power over all site selections, the lawsuit claims. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. By 1949, Dobson was done with diamonds and began searching for a safe place to land. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Family members linked to this person will appear here. [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. based on information from your browser. This is such a great topic! [4] 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. 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. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Harmon Dobson | Military Wiki | Fandom Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Being proud of everything we do. Please reset your password. Harmon Dobson - Wikipedia [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. 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 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. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. harmon dobson plane crash - volat-publicite.com Resend Activation Email. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Harmon Dobson - Google Search David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. The. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. . Search above to list available cemeteries. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Later, he went to Egypt and worked on the Suez Canal. Try again later. 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. Boasting 6,000 square feet, stunning water views and a life-size bronze likeness of Harmon Dobson, this flagship restaurant is a fitting tribute to an amazing man. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Angel was a bit more adventurous than Dobson, though both crashed several times in Africa while mining for diamonds. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Leave them blank to get signed up. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Unfortunately, Coy was protective of Grace and had warned her about dating his unsettled, gallivanting brother. Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! [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. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. Thanks for your help! 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. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. Loved this article! She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. Whatabusiness! - Texas Monthly Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Try again later. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. By March 5, the couple was married. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . A system error has occurred. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. Unflinching, she steadfastly refused. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Tom Harmon is Missing | University of Michigan Heritage Project The war was over, and his adventure had ended. 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. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. 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. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 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. 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. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. 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. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. This account has been disabled. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. 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. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. She was infuriated that people were telling her to sell off her husbands dream and just enjoy the money. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. August 20, 1989. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. 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. We still greet our customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations.