It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. There was a problem getting your location. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. This was a very interesting story to tell! But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . 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. Tom Dobson. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. in 2013. 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. 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. Add to your scrapbook. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed 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. 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. Unfortunately, Coy was protective of Grace and had warned her about dating his unsettled, gallivanting brother. 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. . There was an error deleting this problem. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. 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. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. This is such a great topic! 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. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. harmon dobson plane crash. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. . Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Tom Harmon is Missing | University of Michigan Heritage Project I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. 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 was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Wikipedia. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. Dobson faced financial challenges. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. This tiny burger stand offered something people had never seen: a burger that was so big, they had to hold its five-inch bun with two hands. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. 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. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. 1 of 6. This is a carousel with slides. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Try again later. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16533251/harmon-archibald-dobson. The History of and Story Behind Whataburger Logo - Money Inc Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. 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. 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. Unique 30-foot-tall A-frame design spiked interest in Whataburger In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. Spicing Things Up: Whataburger Buffalo Ranch Chicken Lineup Returns for a Limited Time, Get Ready for More Bold Flavors: Whataburger is Growing in Memphis, Whataburger Celebrates One Year of Delicious Dining in Colorful Colorado, MyWhataburger As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Two people killed in plane crash near Thorsby: RCMP The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Beechcraft Model 18. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Rocky Mountain House airport manager one of 2 dead in plane crash - CBC 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. 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. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The other victims were identified by the Texas . Year should not be greater than current year. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. 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. Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. His parents had reason to worry. The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. So proud & so tired.17. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. Sorry! 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. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work.