Posted on 08/08/2024 6:14:17 AM PDT by Red Badger
NATIONAL WHATABURGER DAY
Today is August 8 on the National Day Calendar and we are celebrating the rich history of fresh, made-to-order burgers on National Whataburger Day. This National Day celebrates Whataburger’s food, fans and employees, otherwise known as Family Members, who are the heart and soul of the brand.
#WHATABURGERDAY
For seven decades, Whataburger has been serving up bold flavors, extraordinary hospitality, meaningful community celebrations, charitable efforts, and passionate fan recognition. It’s a place where families gather, memories are made, and strangers become friends as they bond over great food. Whataburger is known for its 100% fresh, made-to-order burgers that millions of customers love to customize, just like they like it.
National Whataburger Day celebrates the employees, customers, and many contributions Whataburger makes to the communities it serves.
Whataburger Beginnings
Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger restaurant on August 8, 1950, in Corpus Christi, Texas. His goal was to simply serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold, and so good, customers would say, “What a burger!” after one bite.
Harmon did succeed on both counts and his little burger stand became a legend throughout Texas and the South. A second Whataburger location was opened in Kingsville, Texas in 1952. Joe Andrews Sr. became the first Whataburger franchise owner in 1953. Between 1953 and 1967, Whataburger began expanding restaurants across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee.
Founder Dobson was more than just an entrepreneur. He was also an oil driller, a diamond courier, and an avid pilot. His love for flying would be the inspiration to design the iconic A-frame restaurant we know today. In fact, Dobson specifically designed the bright orange-and-white A-frame so it would be visible from both the air and the ground.
Whataburger Buns
Dobson's goal was to not only create an amazing restaurant, he also wanted to create a delicious burger, too. He had a vision to create a burger large enough it required two hands to hold it. In order to do this, Dobson would work with a local Corpus Christi bakery to make a five-inch hamburger bun. However, the bakery did not have baking pans big enough to make the five-inch buns. Determined to serve a large burger, Dobson would then seek a manufacturer to have baking pans specially made.
Dobson’s determination to invent the 5-inch hamburger bun yielded a one-of-a-kind product that created a fandom that spans generations and lives on to this day.
6 Facts on National Whataburger Day
Whataburger is the first restaurant to serve the quarter-pound hamburger patty.
In July 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia STS 93 crew brought Whataburger cookies on their space mission.
Whataburger ketchup, mustard, and mayo are proprietary, meaning you can only get their famous flavor by eating at Whataburger.
There are nearly 38,000 ways to order your Whataburger.
Whataburger is one of the only restaurants to sell its ketchup in stores.
The first Whataburger “all the way” sold for 25¢ in 1950. Whataburger made $50 on its first day of operation.
Whataburger knows their greatest assets are its Family Members and passionate fans. Every day they make extraordinary moments with Whataburger, creating a cult-like following that is rivaled by no other burger brand. Many customers wrap their babies in Whataburger taquito paper, propose marriage over fries, bring their prom dates for after-prom shakes, and even create beautiful art inspired by their orange-and-white stripes.
Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to provide 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!”
5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WHATABURGER DAY
Show your Whataburger love by wearing the iconic Whataburger orange.
Wish Whataburger employees happy National Whataburger Day.
Discover a new Whataburger favorite by ordering something you’ve never tried before or customizing a tried and true in a new way.
Be the trivia hero of your group and learn about Whataburger’s rich history and fun facts.
Grab your family and friends and snap a picture at Whataburger and share it on social media tagging
#NationalWhataburgerDay.
NATIONAL WHATABURGERDAY
In 2023, National Day Calendar and Whataburger formed a collaboration to create National Whataburger Day. Each year on August 8, we spotlight the legacy of Whataburger and honor the employees and fans of this iconic food destination.
Brief Whataburger History
Harmon Dobson began Whataburger more than 70 years ago with the intention of serving a burger big enough for two hands. Dobson opened his first burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas and named it "Whataburger."
Today, Dobson's original vision still inspires everything Whataburger does. Each and every Whataburger® is still made to order. In fact, they use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. They still greet their customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They serve hot, fresh food at every Whataburger restaurant across the country. However, the original burger stand in Corpus Christi is never far from their hearts.
Visit the Whataburger website to learn more about the history of the company.
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August 8th Celebrated History
1876
The U.S. Patent Office issues patent #N.180,857 to Thomas Edison for Improvement in Autographic Printing. Samuel F. O'Reilly would make further modifications to Edison's motorized pen design for use in the tattoo trade.
1900
The first International Lawn Tennis Championship begins. The event eventually becomes known as the Davis Cup.
1908
Five years after the Wright brothers achieved motorized flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, they present their flying machine to a public audience for the first time. Wilbur Wright piloted the aircraft at a racecourse in Le Mans, France.
1942
Warner Bros. releases "The Squakin' Hawk" and debuts the character Henery Hawk. The spirited brown hawk appeared in 13 Looney Toon shorts. He was often seen pursuing a chicken for supper. His most popular target was Foghorn Leghorn.
1942
During World War II, 6 Nazi spies who brought their activities to the United States, are executed for treason in Washington, D.C.
1950
Florence Chadwick swims the English Channel from France to England. Her time of 13 hours and 23 minutes broke the record previously held by American Gertrude Ederle.
1960
Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
1966
The Beatles release "Yellow Submarine" in the United States. The flip side of the single included the song "Eleanor Rigby."
1974
President Richard Nixon informed the public on national television that he would resign the presidency effective noon the next day.
1963
A British mail train becomes the target of a heist. In the robbery, 15 thieves relieve a mail car of £2.6 million. While all of the thieves are later captured and convicted, the mastermind and insider is never revealed.
1985
In the new agreement, Major League Baseball will permit two new National League teams in 1993. The teams added in the expansion year were Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins (Miami Marlins).
1988
Sara Ferguson, Duchess of York, gives birth to a baby girl.
1988
The Chicago Cubs play their first night game at Wrigley Field 112 years after their inception. When darkness set in, 91-year-old Harry Grossman threw the switch that brought to the theater below. However, the game was never completed due to rain at 3 1/2 innings. It's interesting to note that the first night game ever played at Wrigley Field came in 1943 during World War II when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League played their All-Star game under temporary lights.
1992
US Dream Team wins Olympic gold in Barcelona Olympics.
1995
Coolio releases "Gangsta's Paradise" which features music from Stevie Wonder. The song would go on to be featured in the 1995 movie Dangerous Minds.
2004
Denver Bronco's quarterback John Elway elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2013
Former Washington Post editor, Benjamin Bradlee, receives Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
August 8th Celebrated Birthdays Matthew Henson - 1866
In an expedition led by Robert Peary, Henson became the first African American to reach the North Pole.
Robert Smith - 1879
Also known as "Dr. Bob," Smith co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous.
Ernest Lawrence - 1901
The physicist is known for inventing the cyclotron. In 1939, he won the Nobel Prize for his invention of the cyclotron.
Paul Dirac - 1902
The 1933 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, the British physicist contributed to the advancement of quantum physics.
Esther Williams - 1921
Swimming champion turned movie star, Williams appeared in many of her films doing what she does best - swimming. She would also earn her star on the Walk of Fame in 1960.
Mel Tillis - 1932
The country musician and songwriter is known for songs like "Coca Cola Cowboy" and "Let's Go All The Way Tonight."
Dustin Hoffman - 1937
An Oscar-winning actor, Hoffman made his film debut in 1967 in The Tiger Makes Out. He is also known for his roles in The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Tootsie, and Hook.
Svetlana Savitskaya - 1948
Pilot and cosmonaut, Savitskaya's achievements include being the 2nd woman in space. During her second flight to space, she also became the first woman to complete a spacewalk. She is the only Russian woman to perform a spacewalk.
Keith Caradine - 1949
Television and film actor, Carradine is known for many roles including FBI Agent Frank Lundy in the HMO series Dexter and Lou Solverson in the FX series Fargo.
Deborah Norville - 1958
An Emmy-winning journalist, Norville anchored the TV news show Inside Edition.
Manjul Bhargava - 1974
In 2014, the Canadian American mathematician earned the Fields Medal, often viewed as mathematics' highest honor.
Roger Ferderer - 1981
The Swiss-born tennis player holds more men's singles Grand Slam championships than any other player.
Anthony Rizzo - 1989
The Red Sox drafted the first baseman into the MLB in 2007. He has also played for the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.
What a Day!...............
Water burgers for everyone!
I miss Whataburger. We had one for quite a few years and then it shut down. It was purely a victim of location. It was in front of the only Walmart and did well. Then Walmart built a super store around the corner and closed this one. That was it, it became an “out of the way” corner by it’s self and it was not enough “draw” to that block to keep Whataburger open.
Most over-rated burger ever. Slightly better than McDonalds.
In N Out for the win!
Five Guys is $$$$$$
What's On It: Buttermilk Biscuit, Sausage (1), Scrambled Eggs (1 Serving), Hash Brown Sticks (2), Shredded Cheese (1 Serving), Gravy (1)Buttermilk Biscuit, Sausage (1), Scrambled Eggs (1 Serving), Hash Brown Sticks (2), Shredded Cheese (1 Serving), Gravy (1) Your Whatameal® includes: Comes with Hash Brown Sticks and a Coffee.
Mel Tillis used to appear in WB commercials in the 70s and 80s.
Mel Tillis’ best friend from HS was my boss for a few years.....................
I’m a fan and have been since I lived in Corpus
You can on occasion buy their spicy ketchup in groceries
I had one yesterday thank you
We don’t have In N Out here.
We do have a Five Guys. Too much money.
We have 3 Whataburgers.................
Had mine yesterday. Excellent.
I well remember Whataburger - haven’t seen one in California in a very long time. Put it in my GPS and “no results” came up.
What with California’s mandated $20/hour for fast food workers, we’ll never see a Whataburger again.
“California ‘s fast food restaurants have cut nearly 10,000 jobs since the state’s $20-an-hour minimum wage came into law on April 1.”
WHAT about all the other burgers?
When do they get a nationally recognised day?
Location! Location! Location! ..........................
If only! Don’t have one within 1,000 miles. Dang it. 🍔🍟
Never had one. 😏
“In N Out”
If you like paper thin overcooked to death dried out jerky burgers.
Better than McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s.................
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