By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. 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. I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. It was interesting to me reading about the founder of this fast food chain Whtaburger, and all the dedication he put towards his work, I think is very tragic and unfortunate the way Dobson died, he would have accomplished much more succeses during his life time. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. There was a problem getting your location. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. So proud & so tired.17. By 1967, business was booming. 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. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? how privileged we are to have been in a partnership with you for this long.. It hurts the brand ultimately.. For the Andrews family, this shift in corporate culture first became apparent two years ago, when it told the company headquarters, which had moved from Corpus to San Antonio in 2009, that it wanted to open a new store in Laredo. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 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. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. 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. Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. Harmon never lived to see his shack become a regional burger empire; he died in a plane crash in 1967. 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. 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. While passing through the Southwest United States, particularly Texas, one will probably encounter big, tall, orange and white signs with a Texas-sized W. This is the sign of the famous Texas fast food restaurant Whataburger. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. The main reason for the move was for oil. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. 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. Dobson lived in the same modest house at Santa Fe Street and Meldo Park Drive for years, maintaining a close relationship with her children, grandchildren and friends, Sheka said. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Please try again later. "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. Being proud of everything we do. 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. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. 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. Through the years, she also served in numerous philanthropic capacities including working for the USO, Coastal Bend Youth City, the Kidney Foundation and the Texas State Aquarium. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Hugh Dobson; a daughter, Lynne Dobson; three sisters, Lola Stettler, Louise Abbot and Jean Florie; and five grandchildren. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. This account has been disabled. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. 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. Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. 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. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. There were nine crew members on board. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. (Dobson remains as chairman.) They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. 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. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Unwilling to compromise, Dobson offered Burton the keys to his yellow Plymouth convertible and franchise rights to all of San Antonio in exchange for the business. 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. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Franchisees also sued over a mandatory rebate plan, which WOA claims amounted to forcing vendors to pay illegal rebates, kickbacks, and bribes to Whataburger and its executives. Peterson resigned in 1993. 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. 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. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 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. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. [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. ! I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. 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. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. The Whataburger Jr. was added to the menu, as were jalapeos and onion rings. Family members linked to this person will appear here. By the late eighties the company had begun to lose its way. 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. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. Its a little like a public divorceneither side walks away looking good, says Michelle Hartmann, a Dallas attorney who specializes in private-company litigation. Born:? Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. 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. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. In Jefferson, Kitts Kornbread Turns Familiar Fare Into Something Special. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. 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. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. Try again later. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. 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. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Police received a call at 1:41 p.m that a Harmon Rocket plane crashed into a field near Township Road 504 and Range Road 21, and then caught fire. 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. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. 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. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. 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. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. 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. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. 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. A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. 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. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. [4] 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. 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. 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. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. 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. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Peterson resigned in 1993. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Whataburger had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. 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. 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. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. 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. 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. . 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. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. 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. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. [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. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. In fact, people love representing Whataburger so much, they rush out to get the latest Whataburger swag: from Whataburger sunglasses to Whataburger sneakers, t-shirts, sweaters, and hats. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. So proud & so tired.17. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. The story of Dobson was well written here. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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.