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Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Decades-old military plane wreckage found in Alaska glacier, may give The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. You have funeral questions, we have answers. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. His parents had reason to worry. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. ). Treating our customers right. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. 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. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. 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. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. After he was killed in a plane crash in 1967, his wife, Grace, took . The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. 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. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. 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. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. 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 hope to become a successful journalist in the future. This was interesting article especially since it was about a burger that is highly famous here in Texas. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! 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. 1967. The first Whataburger was served 66 years ago today in South Texas - mySA 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. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. Wikipedia. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Great article! During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. 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. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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: These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. There was a problem getting your location. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Andrews developed a close relationship with Dobson; he even coined the companys popular slogan, We build a bigger, better burger., Today, those oversized burgers and the promise of fresh ingredients generate annual sales of $1.8 billion, making Whataburger the thirty-third-largest restaurant chain in the countryand the second-largest founded and based in Texas, after Chilis. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. "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. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The main reason for the move was for oil. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. ), When most Whataburger customers walk into the restaurant, they have no idea if the place they are eating at is a franchise or a corporate-owned branch. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. [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. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. 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. 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. Ricky Nelson and Six Others Die As Their Plane Crashes in Texas If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle The prosperity lasted until 1967 when Dobson and his friend Gene Crane were killed in a plane crash in La Porte, where they had stopped to refuel. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. 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. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. 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.. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. August 20, 1989. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. how privileged we are to have been in a partnership with you for this long.. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. Great article! By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 Because of World War II, auto manufacturing plants had been repurposed to produce wartime products. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. 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. 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. 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. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. 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. 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. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. The story of Dobson was well written here. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. 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. Harmon Dobson - Wikiwand The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). . 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. Try again later. The History of and Story Behind Whataburger Logo - Money Inc They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. Try again later. 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. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. 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. Tom Dobson - NNDB By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. Oops, something didn't work. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. 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. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. In exchange, his company got renewed assurances of its exclusive rights to develop stores in Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties and locked in a royalty rate lower than that assigned to other franchisees. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. Born:? He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. In our eighth decade, we entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding our restaurant footprint to 14 states. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. In 2017 alone, Whataburger partnered with over 600 charities across its ten-state service area, donating over $5 million. 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. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. based on information from your browser. This is such a great topic! Thank God for his drunken partners actions which led him to leave the oil business, otherwise, we wouldnt get to experience the beloved food of Whataburger! Dobson filled that need by buying used autos from urban areas like Detroit, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and selling them back in Batesville for huge profits. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. Whataburger has been highly successful in a very competitive market, says Stephen Barth, a professor of law and leadership at the University of Houstons Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Sorry! So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. 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. 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.