harmon dobson plane crash

Please enter your email and password to sign in. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. 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. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. . Dobson and Burton's goal was to make a burger that took two hands to hold and that tasted good. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. In Reeses telling, the states most famous burger joint has become just another greedy corporate entity. The story of Dobson was well written here. But the rift between the Andrews family and the burger chain they helped build represents a struggle between the past and the present, and between two families who have known each other for a long time. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. 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. 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. Great article! in 2013. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. This account has been disabled. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. 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,. Whataburger was a burgeoning business, but profits were minimal. Perhaps the Depression stuck with young Harmon because food was important to him long after tough economic times had ended. Search above to list available cemeteries. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. The 70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Dobson wanted to increase the price of a burgerfrom 25 to 30 cents. Tagged With: Historical Figures, Legacies. Im glad to read that Tom Dobson, his son, was able to continue the legacy that was left by his father. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. Written by: Rebecca Canfield | Photos Courtesy of: Whataburger. Harmon Archibald Dobson was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Andrews surrendered exclusivity to the San Antonio market and agreed to sell the existing San Antonio stores back to Whataburger. Peterson resigned in 1993. They have jalapeo eating contests, giveaways, and appearances from the company mascot, Whataguy. 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. harmon dobson plane crash. However, after only four months, Dobson grew restless and returned to the U.S. By August of that year, he returned home. Also on board and killed was soul singer Otis Redding . Harmon Archibald Dobson (October 8, 1913 - April 11, 1967) was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. 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. [4] In 1993, her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president of Whataburger. Great job on your article Courtney! The meeting between Pierce and the rich soil of the coastal plains of Texas might have been destiny. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. 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. 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. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. 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. You have funeral questions, we have answers. how privileged we are to have been in a partnership with you for this long.. There is a problem with your email/password. 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. [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. 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. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. The Transportation Safety Board says a plane that crashed last year southwest of Edmonton killing the two people on board, had collided with a power line.. 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. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. This is a great article and very informative! [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. 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. A Douglas C-124C Globemaster II plane, serial 52-1062, was damaged beyond repair in an accident 10 km from Stephenville-Harmon AFB, NL (YJT), Canada. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Business Nationality: United States Executive summary: CEO of Whataburger Father: Harmon A. Dobson (Whataburger founder, d. 1967, plane crash) Mother: Grace (d. 1-Sep-2005) Brother: Hugh Sister: Lynne Whataburger President (1993-2007) Whataburger CEO (1993-) George W. Bush for President It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Lawrence Jagmin, of . Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. Andrews, a longtime friend of Whataburger founder Harmon Dobsons, wasnt simply the companys first franchisee, he was its most successful, opening dozens of locations in Texas and helping the chain build its reputation. Learn more about merges. Try again later. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. By 1990 Whataburger had 475 locations across the southern United States; WOA was running more than 30 of them, in Bexar, Bee, Jim Wells, and Webb counties. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. This was a very interesting story to tell! Eventually, more people came to eat the fresh, large burgers. The meat and vegetables were always fresh, never frozen. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. 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. August 10, 1950- I came to Corpus Wed. Paul finally opened Tuesday [August 8] $50 first day, $79 yesterday & $62 today. Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . 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. Grace Williamson and her 5-year-old son, Tom, rented a home owned by Dobsons brother Coy. In addition to that, Dobson sold chips and a cold drink with the burger. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Along the way they talked about old times and old friends. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. By the mid-60s, there were over 40 stores in fifteen Texas cities and four states. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. This venture led him to his destiny in the Lone Star State. 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. He purchased a frozen custard stand called Dairy King in Big Spring, Texas, and ran it for a few weeks to learn the business. When everyone told Grace to just let go, the love of her husband and the desire to honor a promise propelled her forward into uncharted territory as she fought to keep the Whataburger legacy alive. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. Today, our founder's original vision still inspires everything we do. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. In 1934, Dobson started work as an apprentice ironworker, he later became a shipbuilder at the start of World War II. Early life [ edit] 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. He took jobs at the county fair and as an apprentice iron worker. [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. However, Dobson found success to be lonely. Dobson, an Arkansas native, married Harmon Dobson in 1955, five years after he opened the first Whataburger near Del Mar College. One part of this strategy, the lawsuit contends, is to buy out franchisees with an eye toward taking the company public; gaining greater control over its franchise operations could provide greater value to future shareholders. Eventually, Jim Peterson became the new CEO, but he left a negative impact on the company. 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. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. Resend Activation Email. In the early years, Graces oldest son, Tom, enjoyed helping Harmon make the root beer at Whataburger. 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. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. 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. So proud & so tired.17. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The burgers sold back then are the same as the original Whataburger that many Texans still love to today. August 20, 1989. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? 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. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. 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. . Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Private burial will be in Seaside Memorial Park. In 2017 alone, Whataburger partnered with over 600 charities across its ten-state service area, donating over $5 million. This browser does not support getting your location. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. 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. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. . "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. 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. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. Harmon Archibald Dobson [1] was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. I always found it kind of weird that Whataburger has mostly been a Texas obsession and it amazes me that when they expanded to Memphis and Las Vegas, business declined. Wikipedia. From the very start, Lady Grace saw to it that Whataburger gave back to the community. They have also hosted Wow fund-raising events where they combine fun community activities with charitable giving. Mary Lynne and Hugh are both members of the board of directors. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. 9 Intense Plane Crashes Caused By Stalls Smithsonian Channel Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation 3.2M views 2 years ago 8 Bad Weather Plane Crashes Smithsonian Channel Smithsonian. His parents had reason to worry. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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. 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. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. And as long as they can still get their Green Chile Double Whataburgers or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, they probably dont care. Failed to remove flower. ). BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. January 1, 1950- I think this will be an eventful year for me.1. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. The place did well, and soon Dobson added two more locations in Corpus and one in nearby Kingsville. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? 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. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. 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. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. Dobson was a notorious bachelor, but he had always liked a beautiful young widow he met at the C.I.T. Credit Corporation in Batesville during his auto dealing years. During the early 1990s, profits declined as new items such as popcorn shrimp, salads, and steak sandwiches were added to the menu. The main reason for the move was for oil. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' "I considered myself lucky to be a friend of Grace.

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