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. Dobson was involved in the early growth of the franchise from 1950 until his death in an airplane crash in 1967.

More than seven decades ago, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, “What a burger!”

On Aug. 8, 1950, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson opened up the world’s first Whataburger on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas. He had a simple goal: to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold and so good that after one bite customers would say, “What a burger!”

Discover Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson's story. Learn how his vision for a two-handed burger in 1950 grew into a beloved fast-food empire across the South.

Whataburger is an American regional fast food restaurant chain, headquartered and based in San Antonio, Texas, that specializes in hamburgers. Founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton, it opened its first restaurant in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950.

Boy meets burger . On Aug. 8, 1950, entrepreneur Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas. At a time when most burger stands sold sliders for a nickel, Whataburger was a monster by comparison, both in size (5-inch diameter buns, needing both hands to eat) and price (25 cents at first, then 35 cents soon after).

May 26, 2022 · When entrepreneur Harmon Dobson opened a burger stand in 1950, offering generously portioned patties that required two hands to hold, his hope was for customers to exclaim "What a burger!" (via Whataburger) And they certainly did.

Feb 11, 2015 · Harmon Dobson, the founder of Whataburger, was an entrepreneur with the vision of doubling the standard 1950s burger (two ounces of beef on a 2½-inch bun) to a quarter pound of beef on a...

Aug 13, 2008 · Harmon Dobson was a young entrepreneur who worked in shipbuilding, oil drilling, and diamond trading before settling down into his life's work: Whataburger. On New Year's Day in 1950, Dobson wrote in his journal that he believed 1950 would be an eventful year for him.

Mr. Harmon Dobson, co-Founder of Whataburger. Source: Whataburger Inc. In early 1950s, Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton were looking around the city to open a hamburger joint.