Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. 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. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. 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. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. 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. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. 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. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. 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 Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. Whataburgers affairs were more and more being turned over to the professionals, all of whom wanted to participate in what by now had ceased to be a family business and had become simply a large corporate entity, WOA claims in its lawsuit. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Theres no question that Whataburger, if managed properly in the public market, could deliver a significant return, he says. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. Serving it hot and fresh, 24/7. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. The burger chain has large hamburgers, skinny long fries, creamy milkshakes, and more. The other victims were identified by the Texas . Year should not be greater than current year. 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. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Its so interesting that he aimed to create a burger that would require hands to hold it. However, over the years, Whataburger has become a legend in its own right. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. Peterson resigned in 1993. (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) Today Whataburger has over 800 stores in ten states serving up Harmon Dobsons original Whataburger. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. 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. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. 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. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. Ways to honor Grace Dobson's life and legacy. 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. His parents had reason to worry. 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. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. 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. 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. There were nine crew members on board. 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. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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: Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . Tom healed the wounds that Peterson left on Whataburger by pulling together as a company, simplifying its message, shutting down less profitable locations, and putting emphasis back on its famous burgers.14. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. 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. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. 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 place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. 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. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Whataburger saw a change of leadership for the first time since the 1990s as Tom Dobson, Harmon's son, took over as President and CEO. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. So proud & so tired.17. Great article! The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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. 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. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. 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, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. In 1952, Dobson opened a location in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located outside of Corpus Christi. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. The. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. GREAT NEWS! 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. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. 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. 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. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. 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. ), 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers Street. So proud & so tired.17. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. The lawsuit, filed in San Antonio in March, traces the roots of the dispute to the earliest days of the Whataburger chain, which Dobson founded in 1950 after stints in shipbuilding, oil drilling, and diamond trading. It was fascinating to see that the burger/fast food chain that Dobson created (along with other people) would end up becoming the most notable food item in Texas. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. 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 We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Born:? Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Dobson (16533251)? Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. "She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. 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. Later, he went to Egypt and worked on the Suez Canal. This is a carousel with slides. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. Whataburger had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. According to the lawsuit, Reese met with Atkinson, who told her that despite the agreement, Whataburger didnt believe it was obligated to approve new sites and that it could veto any sites that the franchisee selected. Great article! This browser does not support getting your location. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 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. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. She did not like to drive, so for years he picked her up and drove her to monthly USO meetings. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. 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. 1967. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. [4] In 1962, the company introduced French fries and hot pies to its menu. In our eighth decade, we entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding our restaurant footprint to 14 states. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently.
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