Having Fun in Leander, Texas

Well, we made it to Leander, Texas last Sunday. It was a crazy drive through the Waco area. Never dreamed there would be so many people on the road in Waco. A trip that should have taken a little over four hours turned into five hours and fifteen minutes. The Lord reminded me that I need to be patient. "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." James 5:8 (NASB).

Our site for the week.

Prior to being named Leander, the town was located one mile west and was officially named Bagdad in 1855. The town was named after an early settler's hometown, Bagdad, Tennessee. In 1881 the Austin and Northwest Railroad began construction of a new rail line that would connect Austin to Abilene. The line appeared as though it would pass right through the town of Bagdad, but the town was bypassed when the rail line was built one mile to the east. Many of the businesses and residents of Bagdad moved to be near the new train station and purchased lots from the Austin and Northwest Railroad. This town would be called Leander, named after railroad company official  and former Austin mayor the Honorable Leander Brown.

"Trains, like time and tide, stop for no one." Jules Verne

 Back in the day, Leander, Texas

Bagdad did really exist.

Established in 1882, but incorporated in 1978.

Downtown Leander.

We were able to get together with Art and Caroline Monday. It was supposed to be for dinner, but we met another couple in the KOA and started talking with them as well. It was a great thing that Caroline brought appetizers, that kept us going. Hubby did ask me to fix him pork chops when everyone left. 

Caroline got her first Segway lesson. She had fun.

Tuesday, I made the dinner I was supposed to fix on Monday. Pork chops, roasted potatoes and fresh green beans with bacon and onion. It was a nice meal. We picked up the potatoes and green beans in Wichita Falls at a Farmer's Market. Some tomatoes as well. Nothing tastes better than home grown veggies.

Wednesday, we went over to a friend of hubby's, Tony. They played basketball together in High School. God is so amazing and has allowed us to see people that that we haven't seen in years. Hubby figured out that they haven't seen each other in 42 years. It was a great visit, but time passed by way too quickly. Tony and Virginia's daughter lives in Cypress, Texas (small world) and the next time they come out to see her, we will get together. 

Hubby, me, Virginia, and Tony. It was a great visit!

Thursday, we went out with Art and Caroline to a BBQ restaurant, Southside Market. The original one opened in 1882 in Elgin, Texas. William Moon started Southside Market by raising and butchering steers and pigs. At that time, he carried the meat into town by his horse drawn carriage and sold the meat door-to-door. He had to sell it fresh or lose it to spoilage. Smoked Sausage and BBQ was created simply from having fresh meat and no refrigeration. Moon opened his first store in 1886.

This is the Austin location. 

I wanted the sign in the picture so hubby had to be a little in front of us.

Friday, hubby and I went to Whataburger for lunch. If you haven't had the chance to eat there, I would highly recommend it. You can order your burger anyway you like; the standard burger comes with mustard, onions, pickles, lettuce and tomato. From time to time, I will eat a Whataburger Jr, but I mostly get the fried chicken strips.

I took this picture and then went down that rabbit hole (again) and 

had to find out about Whataburger's history.

Fun fact: The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. 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. It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and they became Whataburger's “First Couple.” Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas.

Harmon Dobson. Can you imagine paying 35 cents for a burger?

Grace and Harmon.

By 1960, Whataburger had 17 restaurants. A year later, the first of the familiar orange and white striped A-frames was built in Odessa, Texas. The menu grew as well, with French fries and hot pies being added in 1962. Tragedy struck the Whataburger family in 1967 when a plane crash took the life of Harmon Dobson. The Dobson family and their extended Whataburger family rallied around and supported Grace as she took over the business.

"Keeping it real" I don't know if this is Odessa, Texas, 

but it is an old Whataburger stand.

 

The ‘70s was a decade of Whataburger milestones. Under the leadership of Grace Dobson, the company thrived and grew. The number of locations doubled to more than 200 restaurants. The first drive-thru was installed in 1971. The Whataburger Jr.® was added to the menu, as were jalapeños and onion rings. And a new building design, which retained the spirit of the original A-frame, was unveiled. 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.

Mel Tillis

At the end of 1980, Whataburger opened its 300th restaurant. Two years later, three Corpus Christi locations began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much to the delight of hungry patrons. New menu additions soon followed, including the Breakfast On A Bun®, Whatachick'n®—and the now-famous breakfast Taquitos. The beloved Nickel Mug—now a classic piece of Americana—debuted as a promotion which was supposed to last 1-year but ended up running for 14. And by the end of 1989, Whataburger was serving hot and fresh food at 440 different locations.

Whataburger Nickel Mug.

 

Whataburger saw a change of leadership for the first time since the 1990s as Tom Dobson, Harmon's son, took over as President and CEO. A host of new menu items was unveiled, including the Whatameal®, the A.1.® Thick & Hearty Burger®, cookies, biscuits, chicken strips and more. The company also passed the 500-store threshold, making it the nation's eighth-largest hamburger chain. The very first WhataGames, the company's biennial burger Olympic competition for Team Members, was held. And on May 6, 1999, Whataburger by the Bay opened in Corpus Christi as a tribute to Whataburger's upcoming 50th anniversary. 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.

You can sit next to Harmon if you like. I just might do that.

On August 8, 2000, Whataburger proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary with 575 restaurants in operation and millions of fans all over the country. In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially recognized what Texans had known for more than 50 years: Whataburger is a designated a ‘Texas Treasure.' New specialty items included the Whataburger Patty Melt and the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich. Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony with Grace throwing out the first pitch. Sadly, in 2005, Whataburger Family Members mourned the loss of “Lady Grace” as she was called by many. Whataburger moved its Home Office to San Antonio from Corpus Christi in 2009.

Home office.

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. 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. Whataburger’s Facebook page reached 1 million fans in 2013, just over a year after its launch. Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard became available at H-E-B stores and online at Whatastore in 2013. Online ordering through Whataburger’s app and website debuted in 2019. BDT Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Whataburger and Ed Nelson was promoted to President in 2019.

Yum!!!!

Condiments anyone?

In 2020, Whataburger’s 70^th anniversary year, curbside pickup and delivery options launched, the company’s first food truck was unveiled, and Whataburger first new large-unit prototype opened. The next year, they awarded more than $90 million in bonuses to their Family Members (what we call employees) in thanks for their extraordinary service during the pandemic. Whataburger also elevated General Managers in 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. In the eighth decade, they entered new markets including Kansas City, Nashville, and Colorado Springs, expanding the restaurant footprint to 14 states.

I would like one to drive by me right now.

Friday night we went out with Art and Caroline. It was a great place, Oz Tap House. It was so much fun and sad to think that we won't see them for a while. I am sure we will be able to catch up with them next July, so that is less than a year away.

We had a great night!!! Love these two!

Well, it finally feels like fall, I am actually wearing a long sleeve shirt. I have become not quite obsessed, but maybe a little, with gnomes. I have two out for fall and I wanted to show you my Halloween gnome. He is so cute! 

Love the lights!

Saturday, we drove to Corpus Christi, we will be there for a week and then head off to Kingsville for two weeks. We will also be flying out to San Diego. Let's just say the next three weeks will be busy.  Saturday was also the day for the eclipse, more on that in the next blog.

Today, we head out to a sports bar so I can watch the 49ers wearing my Kittle jersey and 49er earrings. After that we will visit hubby's father. More on that visit on the next blog.

If there is something special you would like me to take a picture of, please let me know!
 
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God, the RV & me...