harmon dobson plane crash harmon dobson plane crash

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. 1967 Press Photo Plane Crash Kill Harmon Dobson & Luther Sneed Restaurant Owners Condition: -- Price: US $10.00 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: US $4.99Standard Shipping | See details Located in: Memphis, Tennessee, United States Delivery: By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. I had no idea that the founder of Whataburger started in the oil business! Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Search above to list available cemeteries. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. 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. Ive always enjoyed eating the food there and its a top 3 fast food chain for me. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The Andrews family has been very special to Whataburger through the years, said Whataburgers corporate chief, Preston Atkinson, during the ceremony. Some people are legendary because of what they have done, but others and perhaps the most important ones, are legendary because of who they are. You can count real friends on one hand. Ive always associated Whataburger with Texas and learning more about an integral part of Texan culture was enjoyable. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. Once it was averted, Harmon began searching for a new path to success. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. I never knew anything about the man who created it and i found it hilarious that he wanted people to say what a burger! He was able to please his customers with a five-inch burger by making special arrangements with the Rainbo Bread Company to develop five-inch buns, which were an inch larger than the standard bun. 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. However, Dobson was already looking to move on to bigger ventures. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. So proud & so tired.17. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. Harmon was a stickler for cleanliness and very detailoriented, his sister LenaRae explained to biographer Greg Woolridge. Franchisees and the parent company squabbled over products and promotions, and the once familial corporate culture deteriorated into an us-versus-them mentality. This time, however, it indicated that it wasnt inclined to do so. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. 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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. The plane went up 100 feet off the runway and came straight back down. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun, Whatachick'nand the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. In August, they opened their first location on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, across the street from Del Mar College. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. By 1951, Dobson was an official Texan. 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. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. ! During this time he traveled to North Africa where he helped build a U.S. Navy base and worked on airplane hangars, radio towers, tanks, and whatever else the Navy needed. Thats what made me mad, made me want to fight, Grace told biographers. The ceremony wasnt mere sentiment at work. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. A brief period of military camels in Texas became lost to even most history books. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. She lived simply and seldom spent the Whataburger money, aside from the many charities to which she contributed. Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson stands in front of his first . The airplane operated on a flight from Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL (YJT) to Terceira-Lajes AFB, Azores (TER). The case went to trial in 1993, but the two sides settled before the jury reached a verdict. 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. This attention to detail likely led to Whataburger receiving $50 in purchases on their first day.5. The story begins in 1950, when Harmon Dobson, an Arkansas native, came to Texas with dreams of making it big in the oil business, but instead prospered in big burgers, opening the first Whataburger stand in Corpus Christi in August of that year. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. In November 1942, a B-17 bomber with a 12-man crew crashed into a Greenland ice cap. 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. But in April of that year, a plane accident cut short Harmon's life, leaving her with three . Police received a call at 1:41 p.m that a Harmon Rocket plane crashed into a field near Township Road 504 and Range Road 21, and then caught fire. I was also unaware of its background nor founder Harmon Dobson. In June 1950, Dobson was granted the Whataburger name trademark. The brand really is tied to both of these families, Hartmann says. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. I love Whataburger and it is a Texas staple. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. To use this feature, use a newer browser. She threw out the ball at the field right before she got really sick. Try again. The plane, a Harmon Rocket, caught fire following the crash. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, Harmon Dobson was raised in the rural farming community of Cushman, Arkansas. 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. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. I hope to become a successful journalist in the future. 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 Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. As a devout Whataburger customer this article was fascinating. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. Treating our customers right. Peterson resigned in 1993. 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. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. 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. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Ben Cauley survived the crash and James Alexander was not on the plane. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. It hurts the brand ultimately.. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. We still use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. In 1953 , Joe Andrews received the first Whataburger franchise, and business was booming. Dobson wrote about his success during the first couple of days Whataburger opened in his journal. Try again later. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. Mr. Harmon Dobson, the co-Founder of Whataburger Co., died on April 11, 1967, which left his wife and widow, Grace, to take control over the of the business. Whats the beef between Texass most iconic burger chain and its most loyal franchisee? Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. [1] In 1971, the company opened its first drive-through store, and in 1972, it opened its 100th store. The burgers were always cooked exactly how the customer wanted them to be. Learn more about managing a memorial . It was also surprising to me that Whataburgers exists in other states. Dobson then bounced around a lot after that work on the Suez Canal in Egypt, and then in Bahrain where he was in charge of a construction of a mess hall. Contents 1 Early life 2 Whataburger 3 Death 4 References Early life I like to write, listen to music, and read about fashion. August 20, 1989. Benefits. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Other franchisees settled their disputes in a separate agreement as part of Whataburgers efforts to repair its strained relations with them. [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. By the end of 1936, he had a net worth of $35,000. His parents had reason to worry. 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. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. 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 the summer of 1854, a destitute stowaway on a Texas-bound schooner was discovered and forced to work for his passage. The company also said it didnt intend for the 1993 settlement to give WOA exclusive rights or lower royalties. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. A Montana family is mourning the loss of their husband, father and grandfather this week after the 50-year-old man crashed in an airplane in Summit County while flying solo along a route he knew well. Burton wanted to cut back on the product, convinced that customers would not pay that much. Add to your scrapbook. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. He was not afraid to tell people if they did not meet his standards.. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as a stall. 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. Es Cuaresma y Whataburger lo sabe: El Whatacatch, est de regreso! By The Canadian Press Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 Unfortunately, Coy was protective of Grace and had warned her about dating his unsettled, gallivanting brother. With time, they started to expand more outside Texas because Texans gave this restaurant a gold star. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Shortly after arriving on campus, Harmon was called home to help with a family crisis. The main reason for the move was for oil. It is a place that feels like home to more than 50,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. 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! Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. However, if one thinks about it, if it were not for this incident, Dobson would not have gone down the road that he did to finance Whataburger. This is a great article and very informative! 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. "But through all of their giving and the charitable things that they did for the community and the state of Texas it glowed down on her anyway. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. He kicked off New Year's Day 1950 with a. 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. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. He flew to Texas to scout out the oil and auto possibilities in places like Witchita Falls, Dallas, and Houston. She was very excited about that." Learn more about merges. Even the grandchildren work at Whataburger and attend company meetings. It was fascinating to see that the burger/fast food chain that Dobson created (along with other people) would end up becoming the most notable food item in Texas. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas. 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. Failed to delete memorial. 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. [3][2], In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson, a widow with a five-year-old son. Everyone expected Grace, now twice widowed, to crumble, and they encouraged her to sell Whataburger. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's First Couple. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. This is a carousel with slides. In 1956 and 1957, respectively, they had a daughter named Mary Lynne and a son named Hugh Carlton. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. One year, 24 weddings were held at a Dallas Whataburger. In my personal opinion, I am glad he did not succeed in striking oil because I would not have been able to enjoy Whataburger. However, the oil business would prove to be about as profitable for Dobson as the diamond business. By the end of 1950, Dobson had quit both the oil and auto industries and made Whataburger his sole venture. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. 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. When I think of Whataburger, I immediately think of Texas and burgers. Born:? They were finally recovered earlier this month after five months of rescue attempts. Lawrence Jagmin, of Frankfort, crashed Tuesday evening near Illinois 394 and Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. Verify and try again. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. After the Second World War ended, Harmon settled on buying used cars, which became profitable. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. However, news broke out in June 2019 that Whataburger sold a controlling interest in the company to Chicago- based investment banking firm BDT Capital. Each and every Whataburger is still made to orderwhen it's ordered. September 23, 1952- I never expected anything like this. The other victims were identified by the Texas . To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. 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. 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. 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. This is such a great topic! Dobson revealed that in Fast Food magazine in 1957 that flying over a Whataburger in Bryan, Texas led to more customers buying burgers. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. 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. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Lawrence Jagmin, of . Harmons parents, Hugh and Ethel, raised cattle and fed the family fresh beef, milk, and home-grown vegetables. Harmon Dobson was born in 1913 in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobson. 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. 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. Other publicly traded restaurant companies have made similar moves recently. 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. 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. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. ). Weve updated the security on the site. Written by: Rebecca Canfield | Photos Courtesy of: Whataburger. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? A system error has occurred. Having lived in Texas for the 18 years of my life, I found it really interesting to finally know the full history of Whataburger. Corpus Christi is going to miss Grace Dobson. Man dies after crashing his plane near U.S. 40. But thats a tough needle to thread for a company that has developed intense customer loyalty because of its down-home, noncorporate image. [8] The crash killed Dobson and his business associate. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. It has expanded in the Southwest United States with about 800 locations in ten states. Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. Harmon Dobson was the founder of WHATABURGER Inc. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a Texas Treasure.' Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. 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. Although he missed college, Harmon was determined to make his way in the world. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. I found this sad and interesting. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. However, if one thinks about it, if it were not for this incident, Dobson would not have gone down the road that he did to finance Whataburger. She was infuriated that people were telling her to sell off her husbands dream and just enjoy the money. 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. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. The location of the first Whataburger was 2609 Ayers Street, across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. 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 addition to a legacy of giving, Lady Grace made sure to instill her children with hard work and Whataburger values. At 4:28 p.m, the plane took off, but, unfortunately, something went wrong. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. It consists of a grilled quarter-pound beef patty, fresh lettuce, four dill pickles, three slices of tomatoes, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. Whataburger had commissioned the "Flying W" company logo and had expanded to 40 locations in four states. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3151 Reid Drive. Cant tell much yet.6, August 11, 1950- Nice day today $97. 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.. 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. 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) was an American entrepreneur best known as one of the founders of the fast food chain Whataburger. 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. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. 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. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harmon Archibald Dobson I found on Findagrave.com. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. Following his success, Dobson began dabbling in oil and purchased a small well in Mountain Home, Arkansas. 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. 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. Also, Whataburger expanded to places such as Las Vegas and Memphis, where the company was unknown, leading to a lack of customers purchasing food. This event coincided with the mass unemployment and hysteria that lasted throughout the following decade. 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.