harmon dobson plane crash

Four of six Bar-Kays members died: Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Jimmy King and Carl Cunningham. The wreckage of a military plane found this month on an Alaska glacier is that of an Air Force plane that crashed in 1952, killing all 52 people aboard, military officials said Wednesday. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. 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. ! Then they ask, whats a picture show? I try to explain drive in movies to them. You can count real friends on one hand. His friend and associate, Andrew Sneed was also killed. Unwilling to compromise, Dobson offered Burton the keys to his yellow Plymouth convertible and franchise rights to all of San Antonio in exchange for the business. Dobson later was hired to help build a naval base where he worked on building radio towers, tanks and hangars. Whataburger, which saw San Antonio as a key growth market, filed suit to block the sale. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Oct 21, 2020, 9:31am PST. By Stefano Esposito and Sam Kelly. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. By 1960, Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. My name is Courtney Pena and I am from McAllen, Texas. Harmon Dobson founded this famous Texas hot spot in 1950. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. 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. The larger burgers that could be found back in the 1950s were served on 4-inch buns. In 2001, the Whataburger Family Foundation officially began, though the charitable efforts had been ongoing since day one. Little did he know that he was going to be the founder of an epic fast food restaurant. This browser does not support getting your location. 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. Two summers ago, with the South Texas sun beating down, a group of civic leaders gathered in front of the Whataburger on Main Street in Alice to unveil a bust of the late Joe Andrews Sr. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. I didnt know the history of Whataburger was so interesting. Beechcraft Model 18. Since post-war production had not yet returned, the U.S. had a great need for autos, particularly in rural areas. 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. I think anyone who hasnt tried Whataburger definitely should because it is one of the best fast food places. Earlier in the year, Harmon had crashed in Dutch Guiana at the northern tip of South America while en route to North Africa. There was a problem getting your location. Add to your scrapbook. Charities like cancer research, childrens education, child abuse prevention, and hunger are still dear to the companys heart. The '70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. I am an English & Communication Arts major at St. Marys University. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. He started his first establishment in 1950 as a large "wooden box" stand. 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. [2] Harmon and his wife had two children, a daughter born in 1956 and a son born in 1957. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He nearly lost a lot of money due to his drunk oil partners actions. Looking for a more secure venture, Dobson met and partnered with Paul Burton. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Learning about Dobsons history was interesting as well, I didnt know that he had originally started out attempting to capitalize on the oil industry. Online ordering through Whataburgers app and website debuted in 2019. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Great job on your article Courtney! Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Whataburger is so common to me, as a Texan, that I forget not every state has one. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. In short, Whataburger made it very plain that its position is that Whataburger never intended WOA would have the benefits that the 1993 Agreement clearly states that it does, the lawsuit says. Its a brand built on pride, care, and love. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business. Tom officially took over Whataburger in 1993 and is still company chairman today. After the settlement, the leadership of both companies changed. 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. 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. 10 Infamous US Plane Crashes | Smithsonian Channel - YouTube What disappointed Harmon most about this era was the news that although he was accepted to the University of Missouri to study journalism, he would never graduate. An opportunity arose when Harmon discovered a niche in the auto industry. Grace Dobson, also known as Lady Grace, is the famous face behind the Whataburger empire. Heisman Trophy winner turned airman found safe after 10 days in jungle If they cant settle their differences, its not clear where theyll be tomorrow. Today, in 2019, it has been 69 years since the first Whataburger opened up. 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. Whataburger is bigger than all of those, and that may be the point. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. 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. He died when his private plane, a Cessna Skymaster, crashed shortly after takeoff. 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. It is crazy that he died in a plane crash. Failed to remove flower. So, Dobson, being a former pilot, used a Piper Sub Club plane to drop flyers and coupons to potential customers. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Harmon Dobson - Google Search Its hard to ignore a burger that makes you say What a Burger!. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. Saturday, May 24, 2014 Plane Crash After I went to the library earlier this week, I found something Interesting as I was going through my notes. 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. At age 16, Dobson was accepted into the University of Missouri to study journalism, but was forced to return to his family farm soon after attending due to a family crisis at home due to the Great Depression. Shocked and saddened, the Whataburger family gathered around Lady Grace to comfort her and her three children in the wake of the tragedy. 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. Following that, he worked at the New York Shipbuilding Company, which, at the time, was the worlds largest boat-builder for the U.S. Navy. 1967. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of Lady Grace as she was called by many. August 20, 1989. Harmon Dobson, a "young entrepreneur" who made his start in life shipbuilding, oil drilling and diamond training, was the man behind the burgers. The price of burgers was raised to 30 cents, and to Burtons chagrin, customers did not mind. Whataburgers Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Please reset your password. List of fatalities from aviation accidents - Wikipedia Victim Dies of Injuries Sustained in Crash of Flight 232 Many Texans still love and appreciate the food at this Texas treasure. Ford Heights plane crash: Small plane crashes near I-394 and Lincoln We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. For many years the Andrews family has been instrumental to Whataburgers success. 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. Yet, I find it insane that Dobson died so tragically and unexpectedly before he could see his fast food chain truly flourish and gain a big following from many Texans and others from different states. Proving everyone wrong, Grace lived her entire life in the same house that her husband bought her. Fowler died after the Harmon Rocket plane he was piloting went down in a field northwest of Thorsby, Alta., on Saturday afternoon. The Alice franchise was a quick success, and over the decades Whataburger and the Andrews familys company, Whataburger of Alice (WOA), grew in tandem. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. 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. As a team, they expanded the Whataburger chain and had a family. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. But perhaps because his dear friend Harmon Dobson was gone, his personal connection no longer seemed to mean as much as it once did. This is a terrible time to risk messing with the Whataburger brand. Piloting a B-25 bomber, Harmon was flying with five other men through a thunderstorm when the plane's right wing tore away. Following that, the adventurous Dobson traveled to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to help build a refinery. I have so much fun talking to the young employees about the early Whataburger. By 1965, it was estimated that Whataburger was selling 15,000 hamburgers a day. 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. Published by Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Sep. 3, 2005. based on information from your browser. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. After all, kindness, compassion, and quality were principles Harmon and Grace worked to instill in their employees. Most people thought Grace Dobson would sell her rapidly growing hamburger business after her husband died in a private plane crash in 1967. [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. As one of the largest franchisees, WOA was hit particularly hard by this arrangement. "It was a friendship that grew and grew," Sheka said. Along the way she made lifelong friends, including Bill Sheka Sr., 83, who knew her for 50 years. 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. The war was over, and his adventure had ended. I never knew that Dobsons initial intent was to try and strike oil here in Texas. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. He charged a pricy 25 cents since the burgers were better quality than the competitors burgers. Dobsons journey started when he left Arkansas for Texas in 1950. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967. 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. The pragmatic Lady Grace rolled up her sleeves and got to work, teaching her children the family business along the way. Months later, Harmon raised the prices for burgers to 35 cents. [2], Dobson moved to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Paul Burton, who was looking to open a hamburger restaurant. These days, Whataburger doesnt seem so grateful. Early life [ edit] 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 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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. So, he brought along Johnny Sneed, who was working with a Whataburger franchise in Victoria, Texas. This is the era in which country music legend Mel Tillis started appearing in television commercials for the company, a role that would continue through the 80s. [4] Burton and Harmon decided that Burton would own the Whataburger franchises in San Antonio, Texas, while Harmon would own the rest of the company and its franchises. It hurts the brand ultimately.. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. 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. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print.