Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. Boasting 6,000 square feet, stunning water views and a life-size bronze likeness of Harmon Dobson, this flagship restaurant is a fitting tribute to an amazing man. I have heard that Whataburger is from Texas but I was never completely sure. 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 Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. [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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. The struggles that Dobson endured building such an important food chain are inspiring. Thanks for your help! Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Thomas Mark Harmon, 50, of Laurel, Mont., died at the scene Monday after crashing his small plane . Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. So proud & so tired.17. . 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. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Dobson faced financial challenges. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Thank God for his drunken partners actions which led him to leave the oil business, otherwise, we wouldnt get to experience the beloved food of Whataburger! 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. New specialty items included the Whataburger Patty Melt and the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich. The young man would go on to amass a fortune in land and cattle, not far from where he first disembarked. Before the Whataburger, the typical burger was a White Castle slider, a two-ounce beef patty on a 2-inch bun. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. 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,. [5] In 1963, Whataburger opened its first location in Arizona totaling the number of stores 26. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. Born: October 8, 1913, Wayne, OK. Died: 1967, La Porte, TX. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. So proud & so tired.17. The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). Whatabusiness! - Texas Monthly Despite the leadership turmoil, the two companies continued operating under the 1993 agreement for more than twenty years, and tensions seemed to have eased. harmon dobson plane crash - volat-publicite.com Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. Whataburger - Wikipedia Failed to remove flower. 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. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle Whataburger is more than a burger chain. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. Dobson even cut a deal with a local bakery to make special-sized buns; the Rainbo bakery had to search the country for a company that could make pans big enough to bake them. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. In 1959, the first Whataburger restaurant outside of the state of Texas opened in Pensacola, Florida.[5]. It isnt a small business anymore, and to keep ahead of the competition, it may have to start acting its size. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. On April 11, 1967, at around 4:30 p.m., Dobson and his business associate Luther John Sneed took off in Dobson's Cessna Skymaster from an airport in LaPorte heading for Victoria, Texas. BDT is a merchant bank that invests in family-owned companies. 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. 10 Infamous US Plane Crashes | Smithsonian Channel - YouTube Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. harmon dobson plane crash. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Really great article. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. You can always change this later in your Account settings. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Beechcraft Model 18. As a standard for mythical tall tales and legends, it comes as no surprise that Texas holds the national corner on stories of lost treasure. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. 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. 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. Montana family mourning loss of pilot | ParkRecord.com Our History: The Whataburger Story Failed to report flower. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. They really caught on early to the adage that pioneers get slaughtered and settlers get the land, he says. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. This was a very interesting story to tell! Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. Verify and try again. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. 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. 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. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Is It Possible to Be Vegan Without Eating Vegetables? Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. Were honored today to just say . Otherwise, it wouldnt approve any new sites for WOA. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. The new CEO and president of Whataburger was Tom Dobson, the son of Harmon and Grace Dobson. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal, the A.1. Thick & Hearty Burger, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. cemeteries found in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. It amazes me how many people talk about whataburger and that those burgers are probably the best they have ever tried because of their unique taste, but I have never tasted one. 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. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.