There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. [7], In his will, Dobson left the company to his wife, Grace Dobson, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company. On April 10, 1967, Dobson needed to fly to Beaumont, Texas for business and wanted someone to come along with him. 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. 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Dobson agreed, and the Alice store opened a year later. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. 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 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. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. I had no idea that the founder, Harmon Dobson, was not originally from here. Early life [ edit] My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. DeLaughters Is the Little Grocery Store That Could, The Daughter of a Barbecue Family Takes Tradition in a New Direction, The Old Orange Cafe Is a Piece of Local History, Gen Zs Homemade Tortillas Could Use an Upgrade. 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. Geographical origins I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? 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. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? Leave them blank to get signed up. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. His parents had reason to worry. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. 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. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 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. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. harmon dobson plane crash. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Wow! Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. By March 5, the couple was married. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. Under Reeses leadership, WOA repeatedly won the chains annual best franchise award. Angel crashed fifteen times before meeting his demise, but it only took Dobson four wrecks to wake up and realize the diamond business might prove fatal. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. Police say the Harmon Rocket a two-seat sport plane caught fire after the crash, and both a man and a woman were found deceased inside the aircraft. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. There was a problem getting your location. 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. 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. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Despite all these changes, we're still sticking to what got us here. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. Search above to list available cemeteries. 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. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. Thats quite a success story to tell, though. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. Weve updated the security on the site. 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 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. 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. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. 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. 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. In 1953, Joe Andrews Sr. became the first franchise owner that was not one of the original founders, with a location in Alice, Texas. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. 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. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. ). Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. Its not surprising that people might want a bigger piece of that pie.. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. [4], Dobson and Burton business venture was short lived when their partnership ended 1951 because of a dispute over Dobson's price raise of the burger from 25 to 30 cents. I found this sad and interesting. 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. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. The main reason for the move was for oil. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. Auteur/autrice de la publication : Post published: 16 juin 2022; Post category: . New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . The plane was making unusual noises and was rumored to be having engine trouble. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. 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. This is a great article and very informative! They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Add to your scrapbook. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Born:? Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Please enter your email and password to sign in. And never forgetting where we started. 200 RESTAURANTS AND GROWING. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. Great job on your article Courtney! 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. AKA Thomas E. Dobson. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. They are memories Sheka said he will treasure. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . based on information from your browser. In the past, corporate simply approved such requests, as stipulated under the 1993 settlement. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. She was very excited about that." [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. [2] Dobson spent most of his early life working on his parents' cattle farm. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. In June Dallas-based Brinker International, which owns Chilis and Maggianos Little Italy, unveiled a plan to buy franchises to boost earnings. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. He was not afraid to tell people if they did not meet his standards.. . She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Hugh Dobson; a daughter, Lynne Dobson; three sisters, Lola Stettler, Louise Abbot and Jean Florie; and five grandchildren. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In a short time, Dobson had an impressive business. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. You have funeral questions, we have answers. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Dobson, who was an avid pilot, was inspired by his time in sky, designed the orange and white striped A-frame store in Odessa, Texas, in 1961. 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. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. 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. 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. 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. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. 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.