Here's what Texas looked like in 1950 when Whataburger debuted in OLIVE BRANCH, MS

A lot has changed in the 67 years since Harmon Dobson began selling hamburgers from a small stand in the middle of Corpus Christi. It was Aug. 8, 1950, when Dobson's first Whataburger location opened up at 2609 Ayers St. in Corpus Christi, just across from Del Mar College. Click through to see what Texas looked like nearly 70 years ago... less LONE STAR HISTORY: Texas in 1950 A lot has changed in the 67 years since Harmon Dobson began selling hamburgers from a small stand in the middle of Corpus Christi. It was Aug. 8, 1950, when Dobson's first ... more Photo: Whataburger Archives Image 2 of 38 circa 1950: The Gateway Bridge between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico. (Photo by George Pickow/Three Lions/Getty Images) circa 1950: The Gateway Bridge between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico. (Photo by George Pickow/Three Lions/Getty Images) Photo: George Pickow/Getty Images Image 3 of 38 A lighted barge floats down the river to start the water pageant welcoming King Antonio. A lighted barge floats down the river to start the water pageant welcoming King Antonio. Photo: John Dominis/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Image 4 of 38 Circa 1950: A view of an oil - well fire in Texas. Circa 1950: A view of an oil - well fire in Texas. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Image 5 of 38 Circa 1950: Dizzy Dean, former St. Louis Cardinals' pitching ace, signs autographs for youngsters at the opening of Texas League play in the Cotton Bowl. Dean, dressed in a Dallas uniform, pitched to the first Tulsa batter as a member of an old-timers' team. He will broadcast the New York Yankees' games on television this year. less Circa 1950: Dizzy Dean, former St. Louis Cardinals' pitching ace, signs autographs for youngsters at the opening of Texas League play in the Cotton Bowl. Dean, dressed in a Dallas uniform, pitched to the first ... more Photo: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Image 6 of 38 Circa 1950: A decal for King Cotton in Texas. Circa 1950: A decal for King Cotton in Texas. Photo: Jim Heimann Collection/Getty Images Image 7 of 38 Circa 1950: A male Monsanto worker examining a control console marked 'Boiler No. 1', removing part of the console for inspection, at the company's Chocolate Bayou Plant. Circa 1950: A male Monsanto worker examining a control console marked 'Boiler No. 1', removing part of the console for inspection, at the company's Chocolate Bayou Plant. Photo: Archive Photos/Getty Images Image 8 of 38 TEXAS, UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 1950: Pair of Texas University students kissing after a close football victory over Southern Methodist University, who had been the favored team. TEXAS, UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 1950: Pair of Texas University students kissing after a close football victory over Southern Methodist University, who had been the favored team. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 9 of 38 Young Texans seated on the corral fence, discussing their chances in the upcoming rodeo in Childress, Texas, in 1950. Young Texans seated on the corral fence, discussing their chances in the upcoming rodeo in Childress, Texas, in 1950. Photo: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone Via Getty Images Image 10 of 38 Circa 1951: Birds eye view of the San Jacinto monument taken from a helicopter. Circa 1951: Birds eye view of the San Jacinto monument taken from a helicopter. Photo: Margaret Bourke-White/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 11 of 38 September 1950: Herman Marion Sweatt (L) in his first law class at Texas Univ. September 1950: Herman Marion Sweatt (L) in his first law class at Texas Univ. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 12 of 38 September 1950: (L-R) Campus editor Ronnie Dugger & Herman Marion Sweatt, after his first law class at Texas Univ. September 1950: (L-R) Campus editor Ronnie Dugger & Herman Marion Sweatt, after his first law class at Texas Univ. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 13 of 38 Circa 1951: Old hands at Lackland examining forms they will need when interviewed by guidance counselor to find what jobs they are best suited for. Circa 1951: Old hands at Lackland examining forms they will need when interviewed by guidance counselor to find what jobs they are best suited for. Photo: Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 14 of 38 November 1950: City founders R. L. Merrill, C. W. Voyles (Seated behind desk), and E. L. Stone (Standing), discussing a drilling deal with two others. ( November 1950: City founders R. L. Merrill, C. W. Voyles (Seated behind desk), and E. L. Stone (Standing), discussing a drilling deal with two others. ( Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 15 of 38 June 1950: Sheriff Tom Buckshot Lane, talking about playing the slot machines. June 1950: Sheriff Tom Buckshot Lane, talking about playing the slot machines. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 16 of 38 November 1950: Prize yearling bull, bringing $10,000 at auction. November 1950: Prize yearling bull, bringing $10,000 at auction. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 17 of 38 November 1950: Steers being fed in feeding pens on the King Ranch. November 1950: Steers being fed in feeding pens on the King Ranch. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 18 of 38 November 1950: Happy farmers irrigating their land, after deep well was found. November 1950: Happy farmers irrigating their land, after deep well was found. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 19 of 38 November 1950: Rushing dusty beef from sizzling barbecue pit to dusty spectators standing behind the ropes. November 1950: Rushing dusty beef from sizzling barbecue pit to dusty spectators standing behind the ropes. Photo: Joseph Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 20 of 38 Typical western-type street in small town. Typical western-type street in small town. Photo: John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 21 of 38 Plane crash survivors (of crash at San Antonio, Texas) receiving homecoming welcome from children. Plane crash survivors (of crash at San Antonio, Texas) receiving homecoming welcome from children. Photo: John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 22 of 38 A young boy looking at the rifle found at the side of Davy Crockett, mounted inside of the Alamo. A young boy looking at the rifle found at the side of Davy Crockett, mounted inside of the Alamo. Photo: A. Y. Owen/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Image 23 of 38 Circa 1950: Woman working in the yard of her new San Antonio home. Circa 1950: Woman working in the yard of her new San Antonio home. Photo: George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 24 of 38 A woman being saved from the wreckage of a tornado. (Photo by John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) A woman being saved from the wreckage of a tornado. (Photo by John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) Photo: John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 25 of 38 Circa 1950: University of Texas football gam. Circa 1950: University of Texas football gam. Photo: Francis Miller/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 26 of 38 Circa 1950: Traffic on Chaparral Street in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Circa 1950: Traffic on Chaparral Street in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Photo: Three Lions/Getty Images Image 27 of 38 Circa 1950: Immigrant farmer Alexander Zaikowski (second right) & his family sell onions & potatoes from their farm at a road side stand. Circa 1950: Immigrant farmer Alexander Zaikowski (second right) & his family sell onions & potatoes from their farm at a road side stand. Photo: Margaret Bourke-White/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Image 28 of 38 Circa 1950: A farm yard scene in central Texas. Circa 1950: A farm yard scene in central Texas. Photo: Pavelle Jacobs/Getty Images Image 29 of 38 Circa 1950: The Alamo, a former Franciscan mission in San Antonio, Texas and the setting for a famous Texan defeat by the Mexicans in 1836. During the Texan war of independence from Mexico, 187 Texans were besieged within the abandoned mission for six days - not a single man survived when the fort was finally breached. less Circa 1950: The Alamo, a former Franciscan mission in San Antonio, Texas and the setting for a famous Texan defeat by the Mexicans in 1836. During the Texan war of independence from Mexico, 187 Texans were ... more Photo: MPI/Getty Images Image 30 of 38 Musician and bandleader Louis Jordan (L) his wife Fleedie Moore and nightclub owner and founder of Peaccock Records Don Robey pose for a portrait at Robey's Bronze Peacock Dinner Club circa 1950 in Houston, Texas. less Musician and bandleader Louis Jordan (L) his wife Fleedie Moore and nightclub owner and founder of Peaccock Records Don Robey pose for a portrait at Robey's Bronze Peacock Dinner Club circa 1950 in Houston, ... more Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Image 31 of 38 Circa 1950: Marty Robbins in race car EL PASO Special. Circa 1950: Marty Robbins in race car EL PASO Special. Photo: Elmer Williams/Getty Images Image 32 of 38 Circa 1950: Jerry Cutting waves as he exits his overturned Modified stock car during a race at Playland Park. The track operated as a quarter-mile dirt oval from 1948 through 1956, and as a paved quarter-mile oval from 1957 through its final year of 1960. Legendary driver A. J. Foyt began his career here in 1953. less Circa 1950: Jerry Cutting waves as he exits his overturned Modified stock car during a race at Playland Park. The track operated as a quarter-mile dirt oval from 1948 through 1956, and as a paved quarter-mile ... more Photo: RacingOne/ISC Archives Via Getty Images Image 33 of 38 Officially opened on February 25th, 1950, the phenol unit of the Pure Oil Company's new lubricant refinery at Beaumont makes a pretty sight in its "night clothes." The plant is said to be America's newest and most modern. less Officially opened on February 25th, 1950, the phenol unit of the Pure Oil Company's new lubricant refinery at Beaumont makes a pretty sight in its "night clothes." The plant is said to be America's newest and ... more Photo: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Image 34 of 38 Circa 1950: A mattress is retrieved by occupants of this frame house which was blown off its foundation and carried 75 feet before coming to rest, in the twister which tore through La Porte yesterday. La Porte and Alvin were the first hit and eighteen more towns felt the fury of the winds in less than 24 hours. Damage estimates from these 2 towns reach $300,000. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hughes and their small child were in the house when the tornado struck and were reported injured. less Circa 1950: A mattress is retrieved by occupants of this frame house which was blown off its foundation and carried 75 feet before coming to rest, in the twister which tore through La Porte yesterday. La Porte ... more Photo: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Image 35 of 38 Circa 1950: View of NABISCO's new Houston bakery. Ritz crackers pour from automatic filling machines, as girls check the weight of filled packages. Circa 1950: View of NABISCO's new Houston bakery. Ritz crackers pour from automatic filling machines, as girls check the weight of filled packages. Photo: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Image 36 of 38 A happy woman has her new Crowsley Suitcase TV 7 delivered to her home, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1950. A happy woman has her new Crowsley Suitcase TV 7 delivered to her home, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1950. Photo: Underwood Archives/Getty Images Image 37 of 38 Circa 1950: A couple on a horses on a Brahman cattle ranch in Texas. Circa 1950: A couple on a horses on a Brahman cattle ranch in Texas. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Image 38 of 38 Here's what Texas looked like in 1950 when Whataburger debuted 1 / 38 Back to Gallery A lot has changed in the 67 years since Harmon Dobson began selling hamburgers from a small stand in the middle of Corpus Christi. BURGER WARS: Whataburger & What-A-Burger: 2 burger chains share one name It was August 8, 1950, when Dobson's first Whataburger location opened up at 2609 Ayers St. in Corpus Christi, just across from Del Mar College. Two months before on June 23, 1950, the Texas secretary of state issued the Whataburger trademark to founder Dobson. Grand opening earnings on that warm August day totaled $50, according to the Texas State Historical Association website . It didn't take long for the college kids and the rest of the state to take notice. The rest is meaty, cheesy history and it all started in a small portable building. Story continues below... A Fort Worth groom's excitement at getting a bag of Whataburger at his wedding late last year lead to him going viral the next week thanks to the Texas burger chain. Think of it as a belated wedding gift from Whataburger and Candlelight Films, the video production company that filmed the whole thing. (Video: Candlelight Films) Media: MediaOS Video "Four days later they took $141.80 and sold 551 burgers. The word was out. Whataburger was a success," TSHA said in the restaurant's online history. ROAD TRIPPIN': Replica of original 1950s Whataburger store in 'the city where it all got started' According to company lore, Dobson wanted to make burgers so good that customers would say "What a burger!" as they held it in their hands. Within a decade of opening his first location, Dobson had 17 Whataburger joints scattered across Texas. One wonders how long it took for Texans to start incorrectly calling it "Waterburger." Raise your hand if you have done it yourself. PUT YOUR DUKES UP: Heated Texas food debates that will never die Whataburger is now headquartered in San Antonio and has more than 750 locations in 10 states with sales of more than $1 billion annually. How much of that do you account for? In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature officially designated Whataburger as a "Texas Treasure" although that was long decided in the eyes of Lone Star residents decades before. Click through to see what Texas looked like in 1950, the year that Harmon Dobson sold his first Whataburger to a customer...