She also gave copious amounts of her time and money back to Corpus Christi and the state. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Benefits. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. In February 1955, Coy passed away, and Dobson and Grace turned to each other for comfort. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . 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. It was very smart of Dobson to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers so that his business to boom even more. He realized that he needed some creative marketing strategies to obtain new customers. Failed to delete memorial. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. While her husband, Harmon Dobson, was the one who launched the first Whataburger, it was Lady Grace who clung tightly to her husbands legacy through terrible trials and tragedies. It was such a smart marketing move to drop flyers, coupons, and carry a Whataburger banner in the air. 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. Whataburger dismisses WOAs allegations, saying the suit contains serious misstatements and baseless speculation. (Whataburger and WOA and their attorneys declined to be interviewed for this story. Whataburger proposed breaking the stalemate by approving the Laredo location only if Reese agreed to relinquish its lower royalty rate and give Whataburger veto power over all site selections, the lawsuit claims. August 20, 1989. Harlon Gerry Dobson, of Pittsgrove Township, N.J., died Saturday at Crozier Chester Medical Center in this Philadelphia suburb, where he . In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. The Dobsons son, Tom, became Whataburgers chief executive in 1993. 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. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. Neither Whataburger nor Whataburger of Alice would be what it is today without the other. 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. However, early on Burton and Dobson found that their differing business philosophies were undeniable. Te damos 5 razones para no perderte el Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich y la Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad. She was very excited about that." The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. They werent in a hurry to expand, and they rarely if ever expanded outside their comfort zone and their target market.. Make sure that the file is a photo. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. 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. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. Whataburger was becoming what Dobson always knew it could, and his family was happy and successful. Try again later. Spicing Things Up: Whataburger Buffalo Ranch Chicken Lineup Returns for a Limited Time, Get Ready for More Bold Flavors: Whataburger is Growing in Memphis, Whataburger Celebrates One Year of Delicious Dining in Colorful Colorado, MyWhataburger Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. The likeness of Andrews, wearing a cowboy hat and mounted on a limestone pedestal, was commissioned to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the oldest franchise of the iconic Texas burger chain. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. Really great article. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. I'm going to miss her, too." 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. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. Peterson resigned in 1993. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. This is such a great topic! 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. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. 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 August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. 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. Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. 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. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. He had $2500 to invest in the right deal involving oil, and eventually, he became partners with Henry Mode on an oil lease in Loving County, Texas.2 Yet, this investment did not lead to success. 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. It was interesting to me reading about the founder of this fast food chain Whtaburger, and all the dedication he put towards his work, I think is very tragic and unfortunate the way Dobson died, he would have accomplished much more succeses during his life time. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. [4] Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 Dobson and Burton scouted out several locations for their big burger venture before settling on Corpus Christi. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. 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,. You have funeral questions, we have answers. There was a festive atmosphere in first class that. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. 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. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. GREAT NEWS! This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. . 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. 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. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. Dobson faced financial challenges. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . However, everything changed when Dobson was put in charge of the refinerys mess hall, and it was here that his education in large-scale food service began. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. 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. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. 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. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. A system error has occurred. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in . Year should not be greater than current year. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. 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. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. Yet despite its success, Whataburgers history has included some setbacks. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. 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. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. For Adler, the name on the stadium and the ball-throwing honor were small tributes to a woman he thought the world of. 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. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Their family complete, the Dobsons embarked on the happy, golden age of Whataburger.