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. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. Resend Activation Email. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. So proud & so tired.17. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. 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. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. Police found two dead people inside the. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Year should not be greater than current year. Since his businesses were now at different locations, Harmon figured it was wise to visit them by plane. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. Tom Dobson - NNDB Leave them blank to get signed up. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. A Montana family is mourning the loss of their husband, father and grandfather this week after the 50-year-old man crashed in an airplane in Summit County while flying solo along a route he knew well. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. After hearing from a friend in Houston that Texas was teeming with both cars and oil, Dobson, whose business ventures now had him traveling halfway across the U.S., purchased a private plane and learned to fly it. His parents had reason to worry. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. The likeness of Andrews, wearing a cowboy hat and mounted on a limestone pedestal, was commissioned to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the oldest franchise of the iconic Texas burger chain. 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. Whataburger - Wikipedia 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. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. Thanks for your help! ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-124C Globemaster II 52-1062 By 1990 Whataburger had 475 locations across the southern United States; WOA was running more than 30 of them, in Bexar, Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. Harmon Archibald Dobson (1913-1967) - Find a Grave Memorial Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. I'm going to miss her, too." Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. The History of and Story Behind Whataburger Logo - Money Inc The other victims were identified by the Texas . Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. Tom Dobson. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. And while we now serve hot, fresh food at more than 890 Whataburgers across the country, that burger stand in Corpus Christi is never far from our hearts. The purpose of this is to explore expansion plans in the northern area of the United States while staying true to the brands message.15 Some of the brand messages can be found in The Whataburger Difference. The Whataburger Difference is what separates the company from every other competitor that they have and one of the five points of focus is to protect and serve the best products in the industry.16 With this said, hopefully Texans will stay true to the family brand as changes occur, which would surely make Dobson proud of how his company has grown. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. ! My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . 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. The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. 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. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Our Story TGFF The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . in 2013. Lawrence Jagmin, of . Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. Try again later. 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 airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). Unflinching, she steadfastly refused. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. There is even a Whataburger race car and a Whataburger field in Corpus Christi that hosts a minor league baseball team. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. . 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. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. UPLAND, Pa. (AP) _ A former New Jersey state trooper severely injured in the crash of United Airlines Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa, last month has died, a hospital spokeswoman said. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. 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. Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. ), 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. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Treating our customers right. 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. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: .