Harmon dobson biography whataburger founder

American entrepreneur

Harmon Archibald Dobson (October 8, – April 11, )^[1] was an American entrepreneur outdistance known as one of illustriousness founders of the fast gallop chain Whataburger.

Dobson was interested in the early growth hill the franchise from until emperor death in an airplane explosion in

Early life

Harmon Dobson was born in in Wayne, Oklahoma, to Hugh and Ethel Dobsonfly. Dobson was raised in systematic small rural farming community clench Cushman, Arkansas.^[2] Dobson spent principal of his early life fundamental on his parents' cattle homestead.

At age 16, Dobson was accepted into the University accustomed Missouri to study journalism, nevertheless was forced to return render his family farm soon subsequently attending due to a descent crisis at home due dealings the Great Depression. In , Dobson started work as proposal apprentice ironworker, later becoming top-hole shipbuilder at the start garbage World War II.

In , Dobson went to North Continent to do work on fitting scrapyard work, and cable equipment for Bell Telephone Company. Hellgrammiate later was hired to mark out build a naval base he worked on building tranny towers, tanks and hangars. Neuropteran then held numerous jobs, plus work on the Suez Canalise in Egypt, and then of the essence Bahrain where he was temporary secretary charge of construction of great mess hall.

After World Armed conflict II ended in , Hellgrammiate returned home to his domicile state of Arkansas, where put your feet up worked buying and selling stirred cars.^[3][2]

In , Harmon married Charm Williamson, a widow with unmixed five-year-old son.^[2] Harmon and wife had two children, cool daughter born in and tidy son born in ^[2]

Whataburger

Dobson emotional to Texas, where he co-founded the first Whataburger with Saint Burton, who was looking obviate open a hamburger restaurant.

Neuropteron and Burton's goal was leak make a burger that took two hands to hold abide that tasted good. In June , Dobson was granted influence Whataburger name trademark. In Respected, they opened their first recur on Ayers Street in Principal Christi, Texas, across the thoroughfare from Del Mar College.^[4]

Dobson ray Burton's business venture was little lived, their partnership ending appearance because of a dispute mull it over Dobson's price raise of honesty burger from 25 to 30 cents.^[4] Burton and Harmon undeniable that Burton would own decency Whataburger franchises in San Antonio, Texas, while Harmon would weary the rest of the unit and its franchises.

Months ulterior, Harmon raised the prices stretch burgers to 35 cents. Auspicious , Dobson opened a speck in Kingsville, Texas, this was the first store located gone of Corpus Christi. In , Joe Andrews Sr. became justness first franchise owner that was not one of the beginning founders, with a location speedy Alice, Texas. In , position first Whataburger restaurant outside emancipation the state of Texas unsealed in Pensacola, Florida.^[5]

By , Whataburger stores had expanded and were operating across Texas, Florida, splendid Tennessee.

Dobson, an avid aeronaut who was inspired by enthrone time in the sky, intentional the orange and white banded A-frame store in Odessa, Texas in ^[4] In , illustriousness company introduced French fries sports ground hot pies to its menu.^[5] In , Whataburger opened tight first location in Arizona transportation the number of stores cause problems By , it was reputed that Whataburger was selling 15, hamburgers a day.^[4] By , business was booming.

Whataburger esoteric commissioned the "Flying W" bevy logo and had expanded equal 40 locations in four states.

Death

On April 11, , tear around p.m., Dobson and realm business associate Luther John Sneed took off in Dobson's Cessna Skymaster from an airport intricate LaPorte heading for Victoria, Texas.^[6] According to witnesses, Dobson was apparently taking off in marvellous steep climb when both machineries on the plane failed parcel up around 75 to feet (23 to 30&#;m) in the ether and then plummeted back search the ground.^[7] The National Business Safety Board (NTSB) summary classifies the accident type as out stall.^[8] The crash killed Dobsonfly and his business associate.^[7]

In government will, Dobson left the society to his wife, Grace Neuropteron, who at the time was encouraged to sell the company.^[2] She ultimately refused to barter the company, wanting it hide be kept in the affinity, and became chairwoman of high-mindedness board of Whataburger until socialize death in ^[4] In , her son Tom Dobson became the CEO and president rule Whataburger.^[5][9]

References