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After handling freight to pay for his travel, nineteen-year-old Abel Head Pierce, a native of Little Compton, Rhode Island, landed at the Texas port of Indianola five months after leaving home. 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. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. 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. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. Also on the board were Sam W. Main who was vice president, Laneil Andert who was secretary, Ray F. Miller who was treasurer, and Roscoe Smith and Tom E. Dobson as board members.13 During this time, Grace usually avoided the spotlight, but she attended almost every company event. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. 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. 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,. 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. That someone was Harmon Dobson, and that chain is Whataburger, which he started in a Corpus Christi shack in 1950, and which today numbers some 700 restaurants, the majority of them still in Texas. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Verify and try again. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Earlier this year, Andrewss company, now run by his daughter, Kathy Andrews Reese, sued the restaurant chain, claiming that Whataburger had reneged on a 22-year-old agreement between the two companies. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. Treating our customers right. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. The Andrews family refused and in March filed its suit, asking a judge to order Whataburger to abide by the 1993 agreement. Benefits. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. With his massive profits, he dabbled in oil speculation and mining diamonds in South America. Five of the crew died while waiting, and the remaining seven . Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. [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. 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. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Dobson was raised in a small rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in 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. Try again later. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. The Whataburger, however, was a whopping quarter pound of fresh grilled beef loaded with fresh vegetables and served on a 5-inch bun, and in 1950 there was nothing like it. 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. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. Their business completed the next day, on April 11, 1967, and the men were going back home. In 1969, Grace became chairman of the board. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Failed to remove flower. The agreement stipulated that if Andrewss company identified a location in the three counties that it wanted to develop, Whataburger was obligated to approve the franchise. This account has been disabled. 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. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. . Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Dobson faced financial challenges. In exchange, his company got renewed assurances of its exclusive rights to develop stores in Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties and locked in a royalty rate lower than that assigned to other franchisees. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The two-seat aircraft crashed into a field north of Thorsby around 1:40 p.m., RCMP said in a Saturday evening news release. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Great article! Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. The next year, we awarded more than $90 million in bonuses to our Family Members (what we call our employees) in thanks for their extraordinary service during the pandemic. Leave them blank to get signed up. A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. 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. The story begins in 1950, when Harmon Dobson, an Arkansas native, came to Texas with dreams of making it big in the oil business, but instead prospered in big burgers, opening the first Whataburger stand in Corpus Christi in August of that year. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. 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. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. 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: 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. 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. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. I found it very interesting that they are still selling the same tasty burgers they sold in 1950 at their first restaurant in Corpus Christi. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Normally, they look at me skeptically as if to say,Yeah, Right!! Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. His mother, Louise, and his sister, Kathy Reese, ran the business until Louise died, in 2005, leaving Reese in charge. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. Oops, something didn't work. 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 wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Its competition is McDonalds and Wendys, not a boutique operation with three locations that offers grass-fed-bison burgers topped with arugula on a gluten-free bun. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. Known for: Co-founding Whataburger with . [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. . Be the first to post a memory or condolences. Harmon's is not the only plane crash to go against the drop in accidents that the War Department are reporting. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the 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. In 2020, Whataburgers 70th anniversary year, curbside pickup and delivery options launched, the companys first food truck was unveiled, and our first new large-unit prototype opened. 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. The University of Houstons Barth says such changes arent unusual in a company that has grown to Whataburgers size. This was a very interesting story to tell! (Dobson family members also may be ready to cash out.) 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. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. The Whataburger Jr. was added to the menu, as were jalapeos and onion rings. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. 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. 1967. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. 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. By 1949, Dobson was done with diamonds and began searching for a safe place to land. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. Add to your scrapbook. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. On July 19, 1989, one of the most dramatic events in aviation unfolded in the skies over Iowa as heroic pilots battled to land a crippled DC-10. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. Try again later. He attributes that success to Whataburgers prudent approach to growth, training, and customer service. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity.