Pilot killed in crash near Thorsby remembered as 'skilled, beloved 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 Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. 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. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Tom Dobson. The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Harmon Dobson - Wikiwand During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. 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. Statue of the Founder of Whataburger, Corpus Christi, Texas Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. [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. 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. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. Harmon Dobson - Google Search Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. 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. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. You can always change this later in your Account settings. ). This is a great article and very informative! Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. In 1942, Dobson went to North Africa to do work on pipefitting scrapyard work, and cable rigging for Bell Telephone Company. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. 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. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. 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. 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.. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Resend Activation Email. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. You have funeral questions, we have answers. 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. 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. Montana family mourning loss of pilot | ParkRecord.com . It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. 10 Infamous US Plane Crashes | Smithsonian Channel - YouTube A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. Saturday, May 24, 2014 Plane Crash After I went to the library earlier this week, I found something Interesting as I was going through my notes. There were nine crew members on board. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. 1 of 6. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. 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. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 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. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . No major injuries were reported when a Boston-bound plane carrying more than 20 people struck a fence and erupted in flames while taking off at Houston Executive Airport on Tuesday morning,. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. . Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The Crash of United Flight 232 - Popular Mechanics In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 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. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The main reason for the move was for oil. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. Dobson's journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Try again later. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. To use this feature, use a newer browser. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. And never forgetting where we started. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 200 RESTAURANTS AND GROWING. Were honored today to just say . Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. [4] In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) 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. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. 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. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. GREAT NEWS! Thats quite a success story to tell, though. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. 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. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. We have set your language to The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. 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. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . Grace Dobson Obituary (2005) - Corpus Christi, TX - Corpus-Christi 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. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. Two people killed in plane crash near Thorsby: RCMP After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. Harmon never lived to see his shack become a regional burger empire; he died in a plane crash in 1967. All three work hard to ensure that Whataburger never strays from their fathers original concept, which was to serve hungry people great food in a clean and friendly environment. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. [5][9], "Deep in the Heart: Whataburger's Long History of Success and Brand Identity", "Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harmon_Dobson&oldid=1103833486, This page was last edited on 11 August 2022, at 05:01. 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. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. 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. On April 11, 1967, Dobson and an associate died in an airplane crash, and Dobson's widow, Grace, took control of the business. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Failed to remove flower. 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. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. He was not afraid to tell people if they did not meet his standards.. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Please reset your password. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. In the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. I thought it was only a Texas thing and never heard of them existing anywhere else. Try again later. harmon dobson plane crash. 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. 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. Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. 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. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. At the end of 1980, Whataburger opened its 300th restaurant. Beechcraft Model 18. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Born:? Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. 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. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harmon Archibald Dobson memorial. 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. Lady Grace and the Whataburger Legend - Texasliving Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. 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. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. 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