"She was a very shy woman, who didn't want the limelight," Adler said Friday. 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 was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. This is a great article and very informative! 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. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. During Hurricane Harvey, Whataburger rallied around the Corpus Christi community and quickly began rebuilding and fundraising efforts. 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. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. In part because of its regional statusof the nearly 800 current Whataburger locations, more than 600 are in Texasthe chain inspires a combination of pride and loyalty among many Texans. 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. However, Dobson was already looking to move on to bigger ventures. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! 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. To this day, giving is a huge part of the Whataburger dynasty. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Thats when they look at me through squinted eyes and really say, Yeah, Right!! This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. Add to your scrapbook. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. The exterior of the original Burger Boy restaurant at 2323 N. St. Mary's. Chuck Blount / Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 6. Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. 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. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. Failed to remove flower. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the 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. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. Try again later. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Today, Whataburger is a billion-dollar industry, all because of the efforts of Whataburgers saving Grace. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. Wikipedia. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. To use this feature, use a newer browser. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. 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. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 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 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. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. 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. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. 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. Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations. By March 5, the couple was married. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. . So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Always thinking bigger, the moment Whataburger began, Dobson and Burton were already seeking a possible second location in Houston. Franchisees also sued over a mandatory rebate plan, which WOA claims amounted to forcing vendors to pay illegal rebates, kickbacks, and bribes to Whataburger and its executives. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. 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. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. After her husband died, Grace Dobson surrounded herself with a management team, became chairwoman of the board and grew the business to more than 600 company-owned and franchised stores - and raised three children as a single parent. 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. GREAT NEWS! We also elevated General Managers in our more than 850 restaurants to Operating partners, serving as the face of Whataburger in their communities, connecting and creating relationships with local schools, businesses, and nonprofits. Read more: 2 dead after small plane crashes near Thorsby: Alberta . 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. 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. A few weeks after the funeral, Grace visited Dobson in Corpus Christi, and they had their first date at Whataburger. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. He felt like the burgers at Dairy King were too small and wanted to build a really big burger, calling it the Whataburger. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. 1 of 6. So proud & so tired.17. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. The plane was bound for Love Field in Dallas when it went down at 5:16 P.M. according to Mitch Barket, a Federal Aviation Admistration spokesman. 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. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. 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. And never forgetting where we started. Were honored today to just say . In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. 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. 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. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. 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. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. in 2013. The Harmon Rocket two-seat sport plane . Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. The prosperity lasted until 1967 when Dobson and his friend Gene Crane were killed in a plane crash in La Porte, where they had stopped to refuel. 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. Whataburger was doing well after its grand opening. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. The main reason for the move was for oil. 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. 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. New Year's Day, 1950, Harmon Dobson, a sometime bush pilot, diamond courier, and automobile dealer, wrote in his journal: . 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. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. The Texas burger landscape is more competitive than ever, thanks to an influx of regional mini-chains such as Austins P. Terrys, the Metroplexs Twisted Root Burger Co., and Houstons Becks Prime and smaller national chains such as Smashburger, Five Guys, and Shake Shack. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Dobson lived in the same modest house at Santa Fe Street and Meldo Park Drive for years, maintaining a close relationship with her children, grandchildren and friends, Sheka said. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons.
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