To close the lid on Whataburger’s 75th anniversary celebration, the company created a one-of-a-kind time capsule to capture this moment for future generations.

In true Whataburger fashion, the time capsule is less of a capsule—and more of a giant Whataburger With Cheese that stands about four feet tall.

“We could do a box,” said Corporate Communications Group Director Taylor Clark. “But wouldn't it be a lot cooler if we did a massive burger?”

Leaders from each region, and each department at Whataburger’s home office, submitted items that provide a snapshot of the company at 75 years.

In 2050, when Whataburger celebrates a century of serving up delicious meals and delightful memories, the burger will be unlocked—and the Whataburger family will finally be able to see what’s inside.

“It's all about excitement and grounding where you are in such a great legacy story as ours,” said Clark. “It spurs a lot of conversation and thoughts about what might be in there. That’s the fun part.”

A celebratory burger-sealing ceremony

On December 2, 2025, President & CEO Debbie Stroud appeared alongside Clark to commemorate the occasion and led the singing of “Happy Birthday” to the future Whataburger Family Members who will open it on Whataburger's 100th birthday in 2050. Polaroid photos and a video of the event were among the last items to be added to the box before it got sealed.

“Seventy-five years ago, this brand started with a simple promise: serve a burger so big and so amazing that people would say, Whataburger!” said Stroud. “For generations, our Family Members, our franchise partners, and our guests have carried that promise forward with pride, heart, and a whole lot of orange spirit.”

“May the next 25 years be filled with the same grit, joy, and innovation that got us here.”

With a milestone year coming to a close, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the Family Members who are shaping Whataburger’s legacy through exceptional service and leadership every day.

Market Leader Mo Fard was a teenager when he made his way to the United States, with every penny he had to his name sewn into the lining of his jacket. His path to Whataburger Market Leader is a story of the power of resilience and hard work — and the lives he has changed along the way represent his passion for giving others the same opportunities.

This year, Mo was recognized among all his peers as the 2025 Founder's Award Winner for his leadership in his market in Kingswood, Texas, as well as his impact throughout the Whataburger brand. Congratulations, Mo.

With a milestone year coming to a close, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the Family Members who are shaping Whataburger’s legacy through exceptional service and leadership every day.

Operating Partner Gerardo Armendariz's career journey began in earnest when a mentor told him she saw potential — and that if he gave her six months, he'd be ready for his own restaurant. She was true to her word, and by 19, he was ready to step into that leadership role.

This year, he was recognized out of more than a thousand of his peers as the Founder's Award Winner for the leadership he shows in his Katy, Texas, restaurant and beyond. Congratulations, Gerardo!

Don and Barbara’s unique love story proves it's never too late for a sweet beginning to start at Whataburger. 

At a Whataburger in North Richland Hills, Texas, just outside of Fort Worth, a simple breakfast turned into a second chance at love. 

Two years ago, widower Don Land, now 89, walked in just before 11 a.m. to order his favorite Whataburger breakfast: Biscuits and Gravy. At the next table sat Barbara, now 85, also a widow. A kind comment about her shoes sparked conversation, and before long, the two strangers realized this wasn’t just small talk, but the start of something special. 

 "I was just thinking, Oh, he's nice looking, and I thought he was friendly," Barbara said. "The next day we had lunch — and every day since then, we've seen each other." 

Savoring the date

That first meeting happened Nov. 28, 2023. The date stuck. Every month on the 28th, Don and Barbara return to the Whataburger where they met. They patiently wait for their table to open up before sitting down together. The tradition has become a monthly celebration of both the day they met and the life they’ve built since. 

Earlier this year, Don and Barbara married and held their reception right back at Whataburger, surrounded by family, friends, balloons and flowers arranged by Operating Partner Brandon Ortega. 

"Our colors were blue and white, and he had balloons all over the place," Don said. “It was unbelievable. We had 30 people here in Whataburger! Who has their reception dinner at Whataburger? We do.”

If you’ve ever seen the Whataburger Food Truck rolling through your town, you know it’s hard to miss. How could a 36-foot-long Whataburger on wheels not be the talk of the town? 

Having spent 25 years working as a chef and owning several restaurants, Sam Dickey, Whataburger Food Truck Program Manager, is used to the excitement. He first joined the company as a project manager, but soon he realized he wasn’t cut out for the 9-to-5 life. 

“It was the first time I ever had an office job, and I didn’t really enjoy it,” Dickey says. “I like to get out and do something a little more physical.” 

Goin’ places Whataburger’s never been 

When Whataburger introduced its food truck in 2020, it was an opportunity for Sam to get back into a kitchen—and on the road. Now, he spends at least half his time traveling, mostly to sites of upcoming restaurants in new markets. 

Beyond groundbreaking events, Sam’s taken the Whataburger Food Truck on all kinds of trips: college sports tailgate tours, NFL games, and even the Country Music Awards. But his favorite events are those where he gets to serve kids in the communities they visit. 

“We have a lot of charitable events where we go and feed the Boys and Girls Club,” he says. “They get super excited, and we bring them lots of fun stuff.” 

His job is full of early mornings, long days, and being away from home for weeks at a time. But it’s worth it for him to be out interacting with people and seeing them react to the food, whether they’re tasting Whataburger for the first time—or the first time in a long time. 

“When people really enjoy the food, and they have memories of eating and enjoying people’s company… they get really emotional,” Sam says. “You can see in their face how excited they are. That’s a really cool feeling.” 

The Whataburger Food Truck has been such a hit everywhere it goes that the company is adding two more. That means Sam and his team are rolling into 2026 with a total of three trucks, allowing them to serve up even more goodness around the country.

Each week for over 20 years, Frank Adams has gathered generations of chess enthusiasts at Whataburger in Killeen, Texas, for friendly games over burgers and fries. From relative rooks to queens and kings of the board, players of all skill levels come together to play—often late into the night—making memories and building community one move at a time. 

Heather Smith, an artist in Denton, Texas, knows how to make a fashion statement. One of her latest creations—a 1950s-inspired dress made entirely from Whataburger packaging—proved that orange is always in style. 

Ahead of the 2025 Texas State Fair, Smith chose to celebrate Whataburger’s 75th anniversary in a unique way. So she set out to design a dress that harkened back to the company's early days, using paper and plastic bags, apple pie boxes, and even styrofoam cups. 

This summer, Smith reached out to a location in Denton, Texas, to collect materials, promising the team she’d return to flaunt the finished product. 

When the look was complete, she surprised the team by showing up with her model—hair, makeup, and dress all perfectly styled to fit the retro theme. Tying the whole look together was a “Flying W” belt and an era-appropriate, diner-style paper hat. 

Operating Partner Breeana Seelig and her crew, who supplied the Whataburger packaging, were amazed by the transformation. 

“This is honestly what Whataburger is all about,” Seelig said. “It’s about connection, creativity, and celebrating the joy our brand brings to people’s lives. We were so honored to be part of her vision.” 

When Damaris Loza set out to make learning more fun, she didn’t just decorate her room, she built a full Whataburger experience that’s gone viral.

Hold the onions, add some adjectives — this Houston, Texas, classroom is cookin’!

From orange stripes to “Order Up” signs, second-grade teacher Damaris Loza has transformed her elementary school classroom into a Whataburger wonderland.

Inside her Klein ISD classroom, burger-themed cubbies, menu-inspired signs, and clever ketchup décor turn everyday lessons into a full meal of fun and motivation. Her table tent mirror affirmations help the kids practice self confidence in both Spanish and English, while her classroom “fridge” — a Whataburger-themed photo wall — celebrates their smiles and achievements throughout the year.

"When I first started this, all my co-workers were like, Please calm down," Loza said with a laugh. "They were like, OK, not everything needs to be Whataburger themed. I was like, Yes, yes it does."

At just 26 years old, Loza has already been teaching for six years, bringing the same care and enthusiasm to her classroom that Whataburger team members bring to every shift. She says the response from students and parents alike has been “nothing but love.” Loza's classroom went viral on TikTok after she posted a classroom tour that had fans craving fries and applauding her A+ Whataburger spirit.

"I told my colleagues, Don't worry — we will have fun in this room, but they will learn,” and as of right now, my kids’ grades are the highest in their grade level. I'm like, You see? We will have fun, but we will grow."

With every lesson, Loza is serving up more than academics; she’s helping create life-long fans of learning, kindness and Goodness 24/7 every day.

When most people think of Thanksgiving dinner, they usually think turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and dozing off to football. But for Carol Hays from Spring, Texas and her family, it’s more like burgers, fries, and watching sunsets by the beach.

It started six years ago, when they spent Thanksgiving together on Okaloosa Island in Florida. They were staying in condos, none quite big enough to host the whole family for dinner. So the original plan was to have a traditional turkey dinner at another restaurant.

But with a three-hour wait and hungry kids in tow, they turned to one of the only other options: Whataburger. Turns out, it was a hit.

“The next time we went, they all said, we want to go back to Whataburger,” Carol says. “So that’s what we’ve done.”

Whatasizing the tradition

They’ve gone back every other year since, traveling 16 people deep to Okaloosa Island for WhataThanksgiving. They even make matching t-shirts, and Carol brings festive paper plates to make the feast feel a little bit more like Thanksgiving.

“It's good family time,” Carol says. “And it's funny how quickly it turned into a tradition that we have to do. The kids would not have it any other way.”

The tradition has grown to include Whataburger Christmas ornaments and gift card stocking stuffers. Back at home, Carol’s husband has made his own Whataburger ritual. Almost daily, he and his friends go for an early morning workout and then chat over biscuits.

“They go every day, and they sit there and solve the world's problems,” Carol says. “We call them ROMEOs: Retired Old Men Eating Out.”

What started as a convenient burger run turned into something the whole family looks forward to together. Even on off years, Carol says, sometimes they wish they were just eating Whataburger by the beach.

When Emily Cowen moved from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to Oklahoma City for college, she was overwhelmed and nervous about her first night away from home.  

“It was my very first time away from my family, and I felt completely out of place,” Emily said. “I was just anxious all day. I couldn't eat. I could barely focus.” 

Her family all came to help her get settled, but once they left, the only familiar faces were a few people she’d met during a summer research program. In their group chat, someone said the four words Emily needed to hear: “We’re going to Whataburger.” 

“All of us were a bunch of science nerds,” she said. “So of course we're talking about Dungeons and Dragons, having just the dorkiest time.” 

But they also talked about their upcoming classes, their new living situations, and their futures. It gave them a chance to process all their feelings together and ease their worries about starting a new chapter in their lives. 

“It's like that bit of familiarity that you kind of need to branch out when you're in a new place,” Emily said. 

The trip also gave birth to an inside joke that followed them through college when one of them read an upside-down day dot sticker and said, “What’s NOINO ON?” They all had a good laugh and started saying it to each other every chance they got. 

After that experience, Whataburger became a place to celebrate big events and milestones. 

“When I got my first job out of college, straight to Whataburger,” she said. “When I got promoted, straight to Whataburger. Believe it or not, breaking up with a bad ex? Straight to Whataburger.” 

Each year, on August 8, Bethany Hayes and her son Luka take a trip to Whataburger to get a Shake in celebration of their birthday—both Luka’s and Whataburger’s. 

“We’re a family that really loves Whataburger,” Bethany said. “We eat it almost every day for breakfast.” 

This year, as Luka turned three years old, they had even more reasons to celebrate. Not only was it Whataburger’s 75th anniversary—with 75-cent Whataburgers for everyone—but it was also Luka’s first birthday since undergoing successful open-heart surgery. 

Shortly after Luka turned two years old, he got sick and Bethany took him to an urgent care clinic. The doctor there noticed a heart murmur, and after visits with their pediatrician and a cardiologist, they found out Luka had a congenital heart defect. 

“We went in for an EKG,” Bethany said. “It was abnormal, so they did an ultrasound—and from there, we found out he had a hole in his heart.” 

In January of this year, Luka underwent open-heart surgery to correct the issue. Bethany said it was the scariest time of her life, but she leaned on her faith and the support of family, friends, and even strangers to get through it. 

“There were so many people that we didn't even know personally that were praying for him,” Bethany said. “Hundreds of people were there for us.” 

Bethany was amazed at how quickly Luka seemed to recover after his surgery. They spent just two nights in the hospital, and he was back to his normal, exuberant self faster than she could believe. 

“He thinks he has super strength now,” Bethany said. “It's like his superpower. How strong he was through it all made me stronger as a person.” 

With Luka’s heart issues behind them, Bethany and Luka are looking forward to many more birthday Whataburger visits to come. 

Late one stormy Halloween night in Baytown, Texas, newlyweds Vanessa and Harold Cubides found themselves stranded in a parking lot, unable to start the engine in Harold’s classic El Camino. 

It may seem like the first scene from a scary movie—but it was actually the beginning of a wonderful, wedding-night trip to Whataburger and a beautiful tradition. 

A place to weather the storm together

Young, in love, and on a budget, Vanessa and Harold decided to get married on Halloween in 2015, thinking it’d feel like the whole world was celebrating their wedding along with them.

They weren’t going to let some rain get in their way, even though it was coming down so hard that they were late for their ceremony. They got married in costume—Harold as a pirate from his favorite manga series, and Vanessa as a mad scientist—and decided to celebrate that night in true Halloween fashion. 

“We decided to cap off our spooky-perfect wedding day with a movie,” Vanessa explained. 

But after the credits rolled and they went to leave, Harold’s car wouldn’t start. That’s when they looked up and saw the Whataburger sign glowing, a beacon across the dark parking lot. 

“Our light at the end of the tunnel was orange,” Harold said. 

They ran through the rain on their wedding day and settled soaking-wet into a booth, where they shared stories, dreams about their life together, and a Triple Meat Whataburger with Cheese. 

“Everybody was just so welcoming and in a good mood,” Vanessa said. “We just kind of forgot about the storm and everything else, and just enjoyed each other's company and some good food.” 

“The energy, the vibe was so good, it felt like a safe haven,” Harold said. “We got to share a nice, warm meal and a place to sit down and say, I love you through it all, through sickness and health, through bad weather and good weather.” 

They cherish the memory so much that they’ve gone to Whataburger on their anniversary to celebrate every year since. Now, 10 years later, they get to share that joy with their daughter Esmeralda and look forward to telling her how the tradition started as she gets older. 

“To have our own little family, our own traditions, and that unique story is really wonderful,” Vanessa said. 

Before she became a trailblazing mayor of Laredo, Texas, Betty Flores was a career woman working for Laredo National Bank, a wife, a mother, and a big Whataburger fan.

In 1997, when she first ran for office, Betty went to Whataburger seeking campaign contributions. Although she wasn’t able to get a donation, she returned to her office with coupons for free Whataburgers for her campaign workers. 

“It was the best thing that could have happened,” Betty said. “At the end of the day, when we were really tired, it was so cool to go get a Whataburger with those coupons. It was wonderful. It saved the day.” 

They won the election, and Betty made history by becoming Laredo’s first female mayor. They ate so many burgers that, after she won the election, her campaign manager Rafael Torres whispered in her ear, “Is it okay if I don't eat Whataburger for a few weeks?” 

Now, she and her husband spend their days on her cattle ranch near Laredo, enjoying time with family and treating her grandson to Whataburger. 

“When he was ready to chew, the first thing we did was introduce him to Whataburger, and he loved it,” Betty said. “He’s a Whataburger freak.” 

Seventy-five years in business are bound to bring changes, Betty says, but she thanks Whataburger for always keeping the veggies fresh and the customer service top-notch. 

“The wonderful taste is always there,” Betty said, “and that, to me, is the most important.” 

After living for 10 years with food allergies, Aaron Powers from Houston, Texas, was finally cleared to start eating things he used to love. His first stop? Whataburger, of course. 

Aaron used to be able to eat whatever he wanted, and he always loved going to Whataburger with friends and family. But when he was in high school, Aaron started having allergic reactions and found out he’d developed allergies to several common foods. 

“It was a lot to digest, no pun intended,” Aaron said. “All of a sudden having to change everything, it's hard to deal with.” 

Eating became a solo activity, and Aaron says he didn’t dine out for 10 years. 

“I was terrified, to be honest,” he said. “I was afraid to try new things. I didn't let anybody cook for me.” 

Burgers are back on the menu 

This summer, Aaron went through some food challenges with an allergist to see if it was safe to start introducing things back into his diet. One by one, he started checking items off his allergy list. 

“It wasn't even over yet, and I was already looking at the Whataburger menu and allergy information,” Aaron said. “My mom was with me, and she was like, what do you wanna eat?” 

So they went straight from the doctor’s office to Whataburger, where Aaron ordered his old favorite: a Bacon & Cheese Whataburger on Texas Toast. He says it tastes just like he remembered—and a bit like freedom. 

“We both cried,” Aaron said. “It was great. I kind of took for granted simple experiences like eating with friends and family. It’s just exciting to be able to do that again.” 

When life has you down bad, there’s always Whataburger’s. Just ask Keion Williams, who says a late-night trip to Whataburger convinced him everything was going to be alright. His story was so relatable, Whataburger brought it to life in a short film — starring Keion, of course.

From sunrise to sunrise, camera crews spread across Whataburger country over one day to capture candid moments of kindness, joy, hard work, and connection — and a whole lot of goodness.

Out of all the orders that get placed at Whataburger each day, some stand out. For Katherine, placing her family’s order is an act of independence that makes her family proud and brings a smile to the staff at her hometown Whataburger.

Every time Johnny Luna goes to Whataburger, he sees the framed photo of 10 Little League baseball players sitting on a rail, and it reminds him of his own team in Texas City, Texas, in the late sixties. 

The iconic image was captured just over a decade earlier and a couple hundred miles away in Corpus Christi, Texas, but the nostalgia it stirs up hits close to home—Johnny’s own team in the summer of 1968 was also sponsored by their local Whataburger. 

“Win or lose, our team would drive to Whataburger after every game to celebrate,” Johnny said. 

Whataburger became a place where he and his teammates formed lifelong friendships. 

“Growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone, those bonds and memories were a cornerstone of my youth,” Johnny said. 

It’s also where he learned to dip his fresh, hot French Fries into a cold, creamy Chocolate Shake—a combo he still enjoys to this day.

Sweetening the stakes, continuing the tradition 

As Johnny entered high school, the ball started moving faster, and Johnny couldn’t see it as well as he used to.  

“Getting hit by that ball was not fun,” Johnny said. “I was like, I think this is my exit ramp right here.” 

So his days of playing competitive baseball came to an end, and he opted instead to play more laid-back softball games with his friends on weekends. 

Johnny and his appetite grew, and the post-game Whataburger tradition continued. He remembers eating triple-meat-and-cheese burgers stacked so high with extra veggies that taking the first bite was a challenge.

These pickup games had a lot riding on them—pride, bragging rights, and trip to the store for a refreshing treat.

“I remember we'd always say, loser has to go get us a 12-pack of Dr Pepper,” he said. 

Johnny’s Whataburger journey came full circle when he worked for the company in the late nineties, managing a few locations in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives now. 

Meanwhile, those sweet memories of his playing days inspired him to share his lifelong love for Whataburger and the beautiful game of baseball with his sons. 

From an adventurous Air Force career to a role in opening a new Whataburger location in Tennessee, Tom Kovach knows a thing or two about service.

As a kid in Victoria, Texas, Tom was never far from a Whataburger. When his family dined out, it was their go-to spot.

“I ate my first Whataburger right after I grew teeth,” Tom said.

That changed when, during high school, Tom moved from Victoria to live with relatives in upstate New York. None of his classmates had ever heard of Whataburger, so he wound up spreading the word about what he considered the best burger around.

After high school, Tom joined the Air Force and built a fascinating career that spanned law enforcement, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence work.

“I got to do some fun stuff while I was in the military,” Tom said. “Jump out of helicopters, scuba dive, rappel down the side of buildings—stuff that not everybody gets to do.”

And although his service started in Texas, it took him to Michigan and then back to New York, putting him far away from Whataburger country.

Familiar flavors bring back memories

Tom spent a total of 16 years in the Air Force before settling down near Nashville, Tennessee, where he got the opportunity to work on several television productions as an actor, military technical advisor, and fight scene coordinator.

When Whataburger came back to Tennessee in 2022, Tom got his first taste after decades apart.

“As I opened that wrapper and I smelled that smell, it was like BAM,” Tom said. “I was back in the family car with my parents—my sister and I jumping up and down in the back seat.”

But being in the same metro area wasn’t quite close enough for Tom. He decided to apply for a job at the new location, and started working there a few weeks later.

Soon after, another location opened closer to home and he got the chance to be part of its opening—once again helping to spread the love for Whataburger.

Growing up in Dallas, Texas, Josue Rodriguez mostly associated Whataburger with trips to South Texas to visit family. Now, it brings back memories of DJ-ing parties with his brother Caleb — and eating Whataburger after each one.

When Josue’s family relocated from Dallas to Michigan, he didn’t know how much they would miss Whataburger.

“Once we moved, we really became more prideful in a lot of Texas things,” Josue said, “and Whataburger was one of those things.”

Born into a family that loved music and dancing, Josue and Caleb would spend their long Michigan winters playing music to pass the time. They started DJ-ing together when their parents threw a party and asked them to supply the tunes.

Spinning one trip into a tradition

When they moved back to Dallas, they started picking up more DJ gigs. One night, on their way back to Dallas from Waxahachie, Texas, they decided to stop at Whataburger, and a tradition was born.

They started going after every gig, and often invited partygoers to join them. No matter where their gig was, or how late the party ended, they knew they could count on Whataburger to be there.

“It became our go-to spot to unwind,” Josue said, “sharing food, laughter, and late-night memories with family and friends.”

Caleb passed away in 2021, and Josue mostly stopped DJ-ing. But every now and then, when a family member has a wedding or anniversary to celebrate, he’ll bring out the old equipment and get the party started — and then afterwards, Whataburger.

When it came time to celebrate the launch of the Bacon Wrangler Double, the latest Limited Time Offer and “Texiest” burger ever, Whataburger decided that the occasion called for a hyperrealistic cake.

Enter Sam Cade, the Dallas-based founder of Cade’s Cakes and a contestant on the first season of Netflix’s Is It Cake? She took the concept from half-baked idea to full-on masterpiece.

“Being able to combine the hand painting, plus the burger and branding,” Sam said “it just really comes into a really fun, festive cake.”

Sam started making cakes in high school as a creative outlet, but it quickly turned into a business. As a custom cake maker in Texas, Sam had made Whataburger cakes over the years — but never one this big.

“A lot of times, bigger is better,” Sam said. “It's more fun for me.”

The process started with a trip to Whataburger to order the burger she’d be recreating. Sam says the cake took about two-and-a-half days to make. It was an ambitious project — not just because of the size, but because of the specific colors and textures.

“I loved doing this one because it had the bacon and crispy onions — things that I wouldn't normally make,” Sam said. “I realized I'd never made bacon before. I actually don't know how that's possible. So I got to get a little out of my comfort zone.”

To see more about the process of making this masterpiece, from drive-thru inspiration to final decorations, check out her behind-the-scenes video.

Daniel Ibanez is a bat biologist and Whataburger lover — and thanks to an appetite for cookies during college, he once enjoyed a few weeks in the limelight as a local Whataburger hero. 

Chocolate chip champ of Las Cruces, New Mexico 

Late one night, when Daniel was a student at New Mexico State University, he and some colleagues went to Whataburger to get food after doing field work. 

“I'm kind of extroverted, so I got to talking with the cashiers,” he said. They told him they were in the midst of a friendly cookie-selling competition with another store. 

“If I buy enough cookies and help you win the competition, can I get my photo up on the wall?” Daniel asked, and they obliged. 

So Daniel bought 20 Chocolate Chip Cookies and came back the next day with a printed photo. 

“I couldn't wait to tell my friends and family,” Daniel said. “The ridiculousness of my photo being up on the wall at Whataburger was a good laugh for everybody.” 

Friday morning workout crew 

For the past two years, Daniel has worked as a graduate student researcher at the University of Kansas. Lucky for him, Whataburger opened its first Lawrence, Kansas, location last year. 

Now, he and his friends who go to the gym every Friday can get a Whataburger breakfast together. Being in STEM, they took a scientific approach to their pre-workout meals. 

“We're scientists and coders and such,” Daniel said. “We actually made a script that generates the optimal protein and price balance for our Friday mornings.” 

With that kind of dedication, Daniel’s well on his way to being Whataburger-famous in Kansas too. 

When she was studying at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Matilde Villarreal met her two best friends, Jasmine Gonzalez and Josue Arrellanes. Together, they formed a Whataburger tradition that got them through the most difficult moments of their college journey. 

The three friends went together like Honey Butter, Chicken, and Biscuits. Their program coordinator even called them The Trio because they were always together. 

When things got tough, they leaned on each other. During one summer session in 2018, on top of their heavy courseload, both Matilde and Josue had family members in the hospital. The Trio decided to start meeting at a coffee shop in nearby Pharr, Texas to study. 

“We’d camp out there for hours,” Matilde said, “typing away, sharing ideas, and cheering each other on through the mental fog.” 

As nighttime approached and their stomachs reminded them they’d worked through dinner, the glowing Whataburger sign across the street was a beacon — signaling a place where they could finally relax and tame their hunger. 

“Crossing the street to Whataburger became our reset button,” Matilde said. “We’d settle into a booth, order our favorite meals, and let the stress melt away.” 

Now, every trip to Whataburger transports Matilde back to those nights. 

“The shared fries, the deep conversations,” she said, “and the reassurance that no matter how hectic life gets, the simplest moments, shared in the right company, can mean everything.” 

“Thank you, Whataburger, for being there 24/7 and for being part of some of the most meaningful memories of my life.” 

Daniel Blizzard grew up in a tight-knit religious family in Pensacola, Florida. His father, William Pierce Blizzard, was a former Army officer and Korean War veteran, and Daniel served in the Navy. When Daniel was a kid, they formed a special bond over shared meals together at Whataburger. 

“He was a big goofball — loved to tell jokes and see who he could make laugh,” Daniel said. “But every time we would share a meal, we could always have an honest conversation and say what's on our minds.” 

When William was diagnosed with cancer in the early nineties, he asked Daniel to take care of him as he underwent chemotherapy. 

One day, about a year after his diagnosis, William called Daniel with a request. He wanted his favorite meal from Whataburger: a Sausage Breakfast on a Bun with Hashbrowns and Coffee. 

“I knew he would love it, because he always complained that hospital food was the worst,” Daniel said. 

As they ate Whataburger together, they had a long conversation about the past and their family. They shared their love for each other, and William told Daniel to take care of his mother so she wouldn’t struggle too much once he was gone. 

“He felt like he had so much to say, and he only wanted to tell it to me,” Daniel said. 

About an hour after their meal, William slipped away, but the final Whataburger meal and conversation remains the most meaningful moment of Daniel's life. 

“Just being able to bond over something that I knew he truly loved was priceless,” Daniel said. “That’s one of the best memories of him that I'll ever have.” 

Brittney Kincaid lives in Iowa, over 200 miles from the nearest Whataburger. But that doesn’t stop her from being a superfan. 

Her first Whataburger visit was when she was eight years old, during a trip to Fort Worth to compete in an equestrian show. She immediately loved it. She says she went almost every day of the 10-day trip, and after that, it just became part of the routine when she traveled. 

“It was a rule of mine that it didn't matter what time it was, as we're passing the first Whataburger, we stopped, hungry or not,” she said. 

Aside from the nostalgia for the days when she used to show horses, Brittney says Whataburger has a unique feeling. And since she doesn’t get to go often, each visit is a special treat. 

“It feels hometown-y,” she said. “When you walk in there, everybody’s so nice.” 

Late-night drives and deliveries 

Brittney stopped traveling for horse shows almost 10 years ago, but she still finds ways to enjoy Whataburger. 

One night, the hankering was especially strong. It was almost midnight, and the closest Whataburger was at least a three-hour drive away in Kansas City. She and a friend headed out on a Whataburger road trip, arriving around three o’clock in the morning, getting food, and heading right back home. 

Thanks to her collection of Whataburger swag — shirts, hats, and even vintage ceramic coffee mugs — Brittney’s love for Whataburger has become well-known. And it’s led to personal Whataburger deliveries on multiple occasions. 

One time, a friend who was traveling for a horse show stopped at Whataburger on the way home and brought it to her. Another night, a regular customer brought Whataburger back from Texas, where he’d been on a business trip. He packaged it up carefully and delivered it to her at work. 

“It might not be the freshest way to enjoy it, but to me, it’s perfect every time,” she said. 

When Deana Griswold and her fiancé, Campbell, pulled up to Whataburger one day this April, Campbell thought they were just getting a bite to eat before heading to a photo shoot together. But to his surprise, Deana had arranged the shoot to take place right there at Whataburger, a classic A-Frame in Tallahassee. 

Deana got the idea when she saw local photographer Amber Lipford’s Facebook post saying she was inspired by that location and wanted to do a photo shoot there. 

“I immediately thought of Campbell,” Deana said. “I mean, he absolutely loves Whataburger.” 

Deana decided to schedule it for April, ahead of Campbell’s birthday, and to make it a surprise for him. 

“I'm not really a photoshoot type of guy,” Campbell said, “so I was kind of like, alright, let me just see how this goes.” 

Photos, family, and fries 

Campbell’s love for Whataburger was passed down through generations. He says his  grandfather was so passionate about Whataburger that, whenever he moved somewhere new, he always made sure there was one nearby. In fact, that location was the same one that brought his grandparents to Florida in the first place. 

“It was between Tallahassee, Tampa and Tifton, Georgia,” Campbell said, “and he picked Tallahassee because they had a beautiful A-Frame Whataburger.” 

Because of his history with that location, Campbell said he had years of memories running through his mind throughout the shoot. 

“I was like, this is the exact same booth, they haven't changed it,” Campbell said. “Whether it was at five years old playing tee-ball to being in college, late-night studying, to now here.”

Deana said one of her favorite shots was of her daughter, Ireland, sitting in the back of Campbell’s truck with ketchup and mayonnaise on her face. But her absolute favorites were the ones of Campbell, just because of how much Whataburger means to him. 

“Especially with him just dumping the fries on himself,” Deana said. “That was probably my all-time favorite photo.” 

All photos appear courtesy of Amber Lipford, Lipford Photography 

WhataFan Steffany Bowling didn’t just show up for Whataburger’s 75th birthday, she brought the cake — literally.

A Whataburger enthusiast from College Station-Bryan, Texas, Bowling made the three-hour drive to Whataburger headquarters while decked out in Whataburger gear to hand-deliver a one-of-a-kind, multi-tiered cake she designed herself. Helped by her 20-year-old son Josh, Bowling carried the gigantic cake inside the home office along with some deliciously decorated sugar cookies. 

While Bowling's cake masterpiece wasn’t meant for eating, it was truly a treat for the eyes. Built with edible fondant and buttercream over a non-edible base, the towering cake stands at four tiers and includes a full burger tier, miniatures of our classic fries and burger bags, and one of Whataburger’s signature cups perched on top.

“I just loved the idea of people who love Whataburger as much as I do getting to just see it and enjoy it,” she said. Making other people smile is extremely rewarding for her, she added.

This cake is just one example of Bowling's deep love for Whataburger, which she said goes back to what she refers to as “old man breakfasts” with her grandfather, Amos, and his friends, and now lives on through her memories, daily purchases of sweet tea, and Bowling's artwork.

Though health challenges have made it hard for her to enjoy her favorite meal — a No. 1 with cheese — she still finds joy in sharing her creativity and kindness, whether it’s through her business Peace, Love & Cakes or her artwork featured by the Whataburger Museum of Art.

“You meet people in the drive-thru, you make connections,” Bowling said. “That’s what I love about Whataburger — it feels like home.”

Matthew and Inez Freeman of Benton, Louisiana are spreading love for Whataburger across the world, one international exchange student at a time. 

Over the past 18 years, they’ve hosted 15 students from a dozen countries. Since they moved to Louisiana in 2015, Whataburger has been the first place they take each exchange student — and the last place they eat together before they leave. 

The tradition started when one of their exchange students, a kid from Spain named Lorenzo, said he wanted an American burger. Naturally, they took him to Whataburger. 

Now, they do the same for every exchange student. It gives them a chance to eat and unwind after a long day of travel, and serves as a sort of neutral ground where everybody can get comfortable with each other. 

“We end up talking for hours, getting to know them over burgers and fries,” Matthew said. 

“We always sit in the same booth, and it's just a fun, special time,” Inez added. 

Loving Whataburger is the American Way 

Matthew and Inez say Whataburger’s quality food and Southern hospitality make it an ideal introduction to America for the exchange students they host. 

“It’s like taking baby steps into American culture,” Matt said. “It turns into a learning experience.” 

“You might take for granted something as little as going and getting a burger,” Inez said. “But for them, it's amazing. They've been dreaming of coming here for years, and we get to watch it unfold. It’s really special and exciting.” 

Two kids became especially enamored with Whataburger: Javier from Spain and Sander from Denmark. Sander and Trystan, Inez and Matthew’s son, even wore matching shirts to school for homecoming. That Christmas, Sander asked for Whataburger pajamas. 

“He said it was the best Christmas present he got,” Inez said. “The kid loved his pajamas more than his PlayStation 5. He loved him some Whataburger.” 

At the end of the students’ 10-month stay, Matt and Inez always give them a choice of where they want to eat their last meal before they leave — and they all choose to go back to Whataburger. 

These days, the Petersen family needs a table for three when they go to their local Whataburger in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

For almost two years, Brett and Desiree Petersen had a standing lunch date at Whataburger after every IVF appointment. It became a space for them to reflect on their journey, process its ups and downs, and hold onto hope. 

“It just kind of became a tradition,” Brett said. “It became a comfort place.” 

“We knew that after each appointment, we'd get to go have a little date at Whataburger,” Desiree added. “It was time to reflect, just talk, and enjoy lunch.” 

Those lunch dates carried them through countless appointments, until the couple got good news: Desiree was pregnant. In February 2025, they welcomed their son, Beckham.  

“That was super emotional,” Desiree said. “It was super exciting and happy, but it was also the end of a hard journey.” 

After taking Beckham to meet the staff at the IVF clinic, their next stop was the Whataburger down the street, where they’d spent so many lunches together. 

“Thank you, Whataburger,” Desiree said, “for the good food and the feeling that it gave us.”

In 2019, Anthony Piekarski and his family packed up and moved from Texas to Indiana, but Whataburger was never far from his heart — or his fridge. His local restaurant sent them off with four cases of Whataburger ketchup.

Five years later, and it was time to check in on this Whatafan. So Whataguy travelled up to Fort Wayne for a ketchup restock and to invite the Piekarskis to Corpus Christi, Texas for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

In January 2025, after a high school mariachi competition in Houston, the Sam Houston High School Mariachi band filled up a nearby Whataburger to feed a bus full of hungry musicians.

“The kids were so excited,” Daisy Zambrano, director for Sam Houston High School ‘s mariachi band, told The Kelly Clarkson Show. “And suddenly, we have another bus pull up.”

Turns out, that bus was carrying the mariachi band from Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas, who had also been competing that day.

“The place just turned into grandma’s house,” said Carlos Lara, Klein Collins’ mariachi director, on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “They just took care of us with open arms and wide smiles.”

The students grabbed their instruments and came together to play a traditional mariachi song, proving once again that fierce rivals become fast friends at Whataburger.

Watch Daisy and Carlos on The Kelly Clarkson Show:

For David Wicker, Tejano music and Whataburger are inseparable. 

In the early nineties, David was living in West Virginia, working as an air traffic controller. While on a trip to Idaho, he happened to hear Letty Guval’s music and was blown away. 

Letty was studying mariachi in college, handing out tapes of her music everywhere she could — including to radio stations in Idaho, where her family travelled from their home to work on beet farms. 

After travelling to Corpus Christi, Texas to meet Letty and see her perform, David decided to start a company, help get Letty’s first album made, and become her manager. 

“I did it because I loved it,” David said. “I just fell in love with the music.” 

Burgers with the band 

As contemporaries in South Texas during the golden age of Tejano music, they had occasional encounters with Selena Quintanilla and her band, Los Dinos. Selena was known to love Whataburger, famously proclaiming, “Whataburger for everybody!” at the 1989 Tejano Music Awards. 

According to David, that sentiment was shared among many groups in the tight-knit Tejano music community. 

“I don't think you can separate Whataburger from Tejano music,” he says. “That's where the groups would go after the shows.” 

Naturally, those late-night food runs spawned stories. One night, David let another artist, Reno Perez, drive his car to the Whataburger drive-thru. Reno pulled up a bit too far past the window, then opened his door and backed up — accidentally taking out the drive-thru window in the process. 

“We still got our food,” David says. 

Letty’s music took them all across the U.S. and Mexico. They were even invited to perform at the White House for Hispanic Heritage Month. 

When they were on the road, they’d settle for whatever else was available. But as soon as they saw the “Flying W” again, everybody wanted to go. 

“We always knew what to expect,” David says. “We were going to get the right service, and the food just hit the spot.” 

Growing up as a child of immigrant parents in El Paso, Texas, Liz Robles recalls the joy of walking a half-mile to Whataburger and sharing a burger and strawberry shake with her two siblings. 

“It didn’t happen often, but when it did, it felt incredibly special,” said Liz. 

When she was a teenager, Liz met her husband Ben, and Whataburger became part of their journey together. 

“After crossing the border and having a night out in Mexico, we would come back and eat Whataburger at two o'clock in the morning,” Liz said. On nights when Ben had to work, she’d come back from a night out, pick up Whataburger and take it to him at work. 

Over the years, Liz says, they’ve celebrated countless milestones with Whataburger. When they bought their first house — one that she’d admired since she was a young girl — the first thing they did was clean its floors and then sit on them, eating Whataburger in their empty new home. 

What started as an occasional treat became part of her routine. 

Liz spent years working as a nurse, and never had time to meet anyone on her lunch break. But now that she works an office job, she and Ben have a standing lunch date at Whataburger every Friday. The employees at their go-to location greet them by name as soon as they walk in with their Whataburger Yeti cups. 

“We’ve come a long way since those days of splitting a single meal,” said Liz. “But Whataburger has always remained the same — full of comfort, great food, and even better memories.”

Tre Preston always loved Whataburger, but he didn’t get to go there much growing up. It was more of a luxury. That is, until he and his mother Sharon started working there and formed a whole new connection — with the restaurant and each other. 

A life-changing lesson 

Sharon already worked full-time to support Tre and his two brothers, but she decided to find another part-time job. Tre was in high school and figured he should get a steady job too, so they both submitted applications to Whataburger. 

After two weeks had passed without hearing back, Sharon decided to be proactive. She woke Tre up one day and told him they were going to the restaurant to follow up in person. 

Tre didn’t want to go. He thought that it was a desperate move. 

But Sharon insisted, and she was right. The manager sat them down for an interview and hired them both on the spot.

“It’s something I’ll never forget,” Tre said. “She taught me that day about being brave, bold, and advocating for yourself.” 

“It was one of those moments where a door in your mind opens up, and there's this flood of understanding. That changed my life in a lot of ways.” 

Memories in every burger 

In their time working together, Tre grew to admire his mother’s work ethic and expertise. 

“She just had it down pat, as if she’d been doing it forever,” Tre said. 

The experience made them grow even closer and gave Tre a deeper appreciation for everything Sharon did for him and his brothers. 

“She was about providing for her family and just teaching her kids the best way that she could,” Tre said. “I’m just so grateful. She taught me a lot about being, for lack of a better word, a hustler.” 

Tre went on to travel the world, working as a choreographer and creative director for 15 years, before deciding to step away and work in ministry. 

Sharon passed away a few years ago, and now for Tre, every visit to Whataburger reminds him of their time together there. 

“When I eat Whataburger,” Tre said, “I always think of her, of that story, and of everything she taught me.” 

If there’s anything the Whataburger family loves more than food, it’s acts of service. It's inspiring to see people in the communities Whataburger serves giving back and spreading positivity — especially those committed to Feeding Student Success, a cause close to our hearts.

That’s why Whataburger is thrilled to partner with Just College Students (JCS), a nonprofit where creativity, community, and culture come together to help spread positivity to students as they pursue their dreams.

Just College Students’ goal is to spread love and uplift students, encouraging them to stick with their studies and earn their degrees. They do this by creating and distributing care packages to students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

One Care Package Leads to Thousands More

Houston native and JCS founder Tiffanie Jones’ inspiration came in 2014, after creating a care package for her cousin who was beginning her higher-ed journey at Blinn College. She soon expanded to making care packages for her friends’ kids, and soon began partnering with schools. In 2020, JCS made the decision to focus exclusively on HBCUs. In that time, they’ve given care packages to over 10,000 students.

The packages contain snacks, fun trinkets, school supplies, Whataburger meal vouchers, and encouraging words for the recipients. What seems like a small gesture to some can make a big impact on students who receive them.

Just College Students’ care packages also feature custom designs from artist Khia Ancalade, a Prairie A&M University graduate and business owner. Khia puts a ton of creativity into her work and represents Black culture and community with every design. See what she created for the JCS–Whataburger collab below, and pay a visit to the Whataburger Museum of Art on Instagram to see more Whataburger-inspired art from Black and Latino creators.

Proud Partners in Serving Students

Whataburger has supported Just College Students via donations since 2019. In 2024, Whataburger agreed to an annual sponsorship of $30,000, which will help pay for 1,000 care packages to be distributed across 20 HBCUs in Whataburger’s footprint each year.

In December 2024, we also invited Tiffanie Jones and a team of volunteers to our San Antonio headquarters, where the Whataburger family pitched in to help pack 400 boxes full of goods for distribution across several schools. After 75 years of serving up 24/7 goodness, Whataburger is more committed than ever to creating community connections.

Like many people, Jordan Mendiola-Tagle of Corpus Christi, Texas always saw Whataburger as somewhere to gather and enjoy company. Whether it was late on a weekday evening or after church on a Sunday, it was always there.

“It was always a place to commune with other people,” Jordan said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Jordan says her whole family was feeling scared and unsure about the future. It was a strange transition for her and her brothers to suddenly have to go to college and work from home.

Getting a to-go order from Whataburger turned into a weekly tradition that brought their whole family closer and gave them something to look forward to together. They’d get their food, watch movies, play games, or just enjoy each other’s company.

“It was one of the only sure things when there were a lot of things we weren't sure about,” said Jordan. Every week, we would look forward to the morale boost. I was glad I could bring them some encouragement—even if just with some good food.”

A romantic parking lot dinner 

Jody and John Duffey of Katy, Texas were set to celebrate 47 years of marriage with a nice dinner together, until the pandemic caused all the dining rooms to close. 

So, they decided to go to the Whataburger drive-thru and have their anniversary dinner right in the parking lot. John made it romantic by packing their car with folding chairs, a table, flowers, and a wedding photo. 

“It showed me that no matter what’s going on in the world, we can always find a way to celebrate our love,” Jody said. 

The restaurant staff did their part to help mark the occasion, bringing them a special anniversary apple pie. A local TV reporter even stopped by to interview them, making it the most memorable anniversary celebration of their lives.

“I’ll always remember that anniversary dinner at Whataburger,” Jody said. “We already had a special place in our hearts for Whataburger, and this made it even more meaningful.”

A thousand miles apart, but still in your heart

Augusta Sierra and her family found comfort in Whataburger in a different way. They’re from Texas but were living in California when her daughter Willow had to start first grade on Zoom.

“She had been so excited to start school, but the pandemic changed everything,” Augusta said.

To help make her feel more comfortable during her first week, they downloaded some Whataburger Zoom backgrounds for Willow to use in class. Augusta shared a picture on social media, and Whataburger sent a care package with a backpack, socks, and notebooks for Willow.

“It sure made us homesick Texans proud and reminded us that Whataburger will always be number one in our hearts,” Augusta said.

Growing up in East Texas, Spencer Wagley always loved Whataburger. But his wife Rebekah, who spent much of her childhood in Canada, took a bit longer to come around to it.

Spencer was best friends with Rebekah’s brother growing up. But he and Rebekah didn’t really get to know each other until they were in college at East Texas Baptist University, and found themselves in theater classes and productions together.

As they bonded over shared connections and creative interests, their friendship blossomed into romance.

“My favorite thing about Rebekah is her contagious personality,” Spencer said. “She makes people around her better.”

“Spencer always makes me laugh,” Rebekah said. “Even the most boring task is fun with him.”

A casual date turns to fate

On Sunday nights, the school cafeteria was closed — but their local Whataburger ran a promotion where they could get a free burger in exchange for canned food. So Whataburger became a frequent Sunday night date spot early in their relationship.

One night, Spencer cashed in his cans for a Whataburger and scrounged up enough money to get Rebekah her favorite, a chicken sandwich.

“I know that I love you,” he told her that night at Whataburger. “It's probably the smartest thing I've ever said in my life, besides I do.”

Although she didn’t say it back right then, she felt it too. A few months later, Spencer proposed on her birthday, and they were married less than a year later.

Thirty years of love and Whataburger

All these years later, they’re still in love and still enjoying Whataburger together. They say it’s been a constant in their lives, and their two kids are big fans now too.

Even when they lived in Kansas, which didn’t have one at the time, Rebekah’s family would stop in Oklahoma and put some Whataburger in a cooler to bring them.

“Every time I go into Whataburger, I think of Spencer and the time he told me he loved me,” Rebekah said. “As good as the chicken sandwich and tea are, they can’t compare to being married to Spencer for 30 years.”

For more than 10 years, Ashley Bean Thornton has started each day with a Whataburger breakfast. Most often, she orders her all-time favorite menu item: the Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuit. Before it went away for a while, she even stocked up so she could enjoy them at home.

For Ashley’s birthday this year, Whataburger honored her fervor for flavor with a surprise party and a unique gift: a custom purse made to look like an oversized Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage on a Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuit. Now, wherever she goes, she can have one by her side.

This summer, nine-year-old Lilly Underbrink sold two batches of freshly squeezed, homemade lemonade at a stand outside her house in Flour Bluff, Texas, near Corpus Christi.

But instead of putting her earnings in a piggy bank, Lilly wanted her money to support ongoing flood relief efforts in Kerr County in the Texas Hill Country.

So she took her lemonade stand earnings to her local Whataburger and used the money to buy commemorative cups through the Cups That Care program. During the month of July, Whataburger donated 100% of the proceeds from these cup sales to local relief organizations in Central Texas.

“I’m excited to know that my donation is going to help the flood victims,” Lilly said.

To reward her generosity and hard work, Whataburger gave Lilly a free breakfast and a special bag filled with a stuffed bear, a journal, stickers, and other fun memorabilia.

“Thank you to the Flower Bluff community for helping me with this,” Lilly said.

The Cups That Care program received such an incredible response that Whataburger decided to continue its support by donating all profits from a second cup collection launched August 4. You can purchase cups online, or at participating Whataburger restaurants or drive-thrus.

These days, Travis Meusborn has racked up visits to more than 100 Whataburgers—but his journey started in 1986, with a teenage fib and a craving to work behind the counter.

While other kids were looking forward to summer break, Travis Meusborn of Houston, Texas was just eager to get to work. So eager, in fact, that he lied about his age to get a job at Whataburger.

From football practice to fry baskets

After football practice, Travis would often stop by the Whataburger across from his neighborhood for a burger or an order of fries.

One day in 1986, Travis decided to ask if they were hiring. He filled out an application and got a job interview right on the spot. To make sure he had a chance, he told the manager he was born a year earlier than he really was.

“I just wanted a job,” Travis said. “I wanted to have money in my pocket, take dates out and stuff like that.”

So he got to work, learning everything he could and always asking what he could do to help. He loved it, and remembers looking at the clock near the end of each school day, ready to clock in.

After a few weeks, Travis’ manager pulled him into his office and asked, how old are you? Travis confessed to still being 15. The manager told him he couldn’t work there until his birthday.

“I was distraught,” Travis said. “But I knew I was doing a good job, and he wanted me to come back.”

As his sixteenth birthday approached, the manager gave Travis a call and welcomed him back on board.

Lifelong lessons and love for Whataburger

Travis says he learned about work ethic from his father, and Whataburger was the first workplace where he put what he learned into practice. He carried those lessons with him as he became the first in his family to graduate college, and throughout his career as a teacher.

Travis has also been a high school football referee for 20 years. He says he’s eaten at over 100 Whataburger locations—because after all that time spent traveling around Texas for football games, it’s still his go-to spot.

Do you remember a time when you could get a cup of coffee for a nickel? Tina Mazzola and her stepdad, Richard Palmer, certainly remember. 

Back in 1983, Whataburger ran a promotion where customers could bring their nickel mug to any location and get it refilled for just five cents. Richard was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas when he got his nickel mug. 

Tina says that mug went everywhere with him. When they were out on the road, anytime they came across a Whataburger was a chance for him to use it. 

“I love that cup because it created so many fun, happy times for us,” Tina said. 

After years of heavy use, the mug was on its last leg and unfortunately ended up being left behind during a move to Florida. 

Coffee for veterans offering brings things full circle 

One day, Tina noticed at the Whataburger drive-thru window a sign announcing that veterans and active-duty military could get a free 16-ounce coffee. Memories came flooding back, and she was excited to share the news with Richard. 

Along with memories of Whataburger, Tina and Richard share another special connection: they’re both veterans. 

“Being in the military definitely was a huge bond,” Tina said. “Getting to talk the same language, share those memories and experiences, made us stronger and more supportive of each other.” 

Richard, whose father was a 27-year career Navy man, served 13-and-a-half years, starting in the Army, going to Vietnam with the Marines, and finishing in the Navy. Tina spent 23 years on Active Duty with the Coast Guard before she retired. 

“There have been times I've been away from home, in situations where it was cold, working long hours, and a cup of coffee would have made all the difference in the world to me,” Tina said. 

Now, Tina and Richard can both get their cup of coffee — no mug or nickel needed. 

“It makes you feel like you are appreciated and cared about,” Tina said. “Even a cup of coffee makes a difference.” 
 

When Andy McCord was young, his family would travel every year to Corpus Christi, Texas, where his father grew up, and take a fishing trip out on San Antonio Bay. Each time, they’d eat at Whataburger.

Like many Texan families, Andy’s passed on a love for Whataburger through generations. But his family has a unique connection to the company. His grandfather, Truman McCord, owned the land on which the very first Whataburger was served.

Whataburger #1 was a small shack on Ayers St., across from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Truman McCord may not be Whataburger’s first-ever customer, but he was darn close. Andy says his grandfather bought two burgers on the first day the stand opened.

Whataburger’s founder, Harmon Dobson, would even frequent the family’s business, which was just a short walk away.

“Mr. Dobson would come down after closing ‘the shack’ to the gas station my grandfather owned, where my dad worked, and would spend time just visiting with them,” Andy said.

The McCord family has passed down a love of Whataburger through generations. Andy says his uncle still goes there every week. When Andy’s father, Jimmie V. McCord, passed away in 2022, Andy went to Whataburger in his honor and ordered a #1 with cheese and a Chocolate Malt. 

Now, Andy’s sons are taking the torch of loving Whataburger. His youngest son, who attends Kansas State University, takes every chance he can to visit the Kansas City location.

The first time Jillian and Nate Childers-Melgar of Albuquerque, New Mexico met, they had no idea where their relationship might be going. 

In fact, Nate didn’t know where he was going at all, so he pulled over to get his bearings. 

“My neighbor was yelling at him for being parked in our private parking,” Jillian said, “so I was like, no, I know him, and I just got in his car.” (She did not know him.) 

Jillian’s car was in the shop, so she offered directions in exchange for a ride. Their meet-cute blossomed into a romance. 

‘We’ve hung out every day since, and now we're married, so it worked out for us,” Jillian said. 

Earlier this year, as their wedding approached, they mailed Whataburger an invitation and shared a funny story that’s become one of their favorite memories together. 

A defining late-night drive-thru mishap 

Early in their relationship, Jillian found out Nate had never had a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. So the couple went on a late-night run to the Whataburger drive-thru. 

“We were in line, just goofing off and chatting, and then we started kissing,” Jillian said. “Then, the car kind of jerks from hitting someone else's car.”

Turns out, Nate had accidentally taken his foot off the brake and rolled into the car ahead of them at the drive-thru. 

Both drivers got out to assess the damage, and the other driver asked Nate, “what were you doing?” 

“He was pretty mad,” Nate said. “I don't know if it was a smart move, but I told him I was kissing my girl.” 

“I couldn’t help but giggle the whole time, because I think it's hilarious,” Jillian added. 

Fortunately, there was no visible damage, and the couple was able to drive away with only a little embarrassment, a lesson learned, and a funny story. 

In Arizona, Evin dreamed of becoming her high-school mascot, but her tumbling skills weren’t varsity ready. 

“I couldn’t do a backflip,” she sighs. 

So she took on an after-school job at Whataburger instead. Turns out, she was a rockstar there, wowing guests, and making everyone’s day a little bit better. 

And, her mascot dreams came true, after all — with a recurring role as WhataGuy. She was a natural, and so great that, with the help of some major-league partners, Evin got her shot at the majors. 

Check out the video to see her mascot dreams come true. 

Invitations to graduations, weddings, and baby showers. Stories of first dates, anniversaries, personal triumphs, and cross-country journeys to eat Whataburger.

This is just a glimpse of what Linda Stern, Customer Care, sees when she sorts through Whataburger fans’ mail each day.

When Linda first started, almost 11 years ago, she would sit down once a week to open 20–30 pieces of fan mail. As Whataburger has grown, that amount has grown closer to 200–300 pieces weekly.

Now she has to spend time almost every day opening it, but she doesn’t mind. Seeing people’s Whataburger stories makes Linda feel connected to them, as if she knows them.

“At Whataburger, we’re called family members,” Linda said. “I feel that connection at the office, and I feel it with our guests.” 
 

Endless “wow moments”

In 11 years, Linda has seen her share of “wow moments.” Sometimes, it’s fulfilling a simple request that brings someone to tears.

Once, a woman wrote in explaining how her father, who’d recently passed, loved his reusable Whataburger grocery bag so much he’d carry it everywhere. A family member accidentally threw it out, and she was looking for another one. Linda sent a letter back, along with a new bag.

“She told me how much it meant to her, and it brought tears to her eyes,” Linda said. “It was just a reminder of her father and his love for Whataburger.”

Sometimes she just enjoys hearing about people's adventures and accomplishments.

One of her favorites came from a man who took a four-day, 2,000-mile motorcycle trip from North Dakota to Amarillo, Texas and back with two friends, just to eat at Whataburger.

Another was from a physical therapist, describing his patient who had no motivation to rehabilitate at first. When he found out she liked Whataburger, he promised to treat her to it every week as long as she was trying her best. That motivation was all she needed to start making progress.

Whether they make her cry or laugh, each story is special to Linda.

“They just make my heart happy,” she says. “It makes me smile to hear that there's still so much goodness in the world.”

When Minnie Benavidez told her son, Daniel, that their family would be taking a vacation to Hawaii a few years ago, he had only one question. 

“Do they have a Whataburger?” Daniel asked. 

A superfan is born 

Daniel, a young man with autism and an intellectual disability, was first introduced to Whataburger about six years ago by his grandpa, who he lovingly called PoPo. At first, he tested the waters by trying the fries. Now, he eats there almost every day, and finds joy in each visit.

“He’ll stare at his burger and watch the steam come off of it,” Minnie said. “And he's like, ‘Look, it's fresh. They made it just for me.’”

At first, Minnie was embarrassed to go to the same restaurant so often, so she’d alternate between a few different locations in San Antonio. But the staff came to know Daniel, eventually greeting him by name and anticipating his order: number 2, plain and dry.

Social situations are challenging for Daniel, but he’s found a comfortable routine in going to order his favorite meal.

“It means the world to me to see,” Minnie said. “They treat him the way I would want him to be treated.” 

Taking Whataburger to new places 

A few years ago, with a trip to Hawaii on the horizon, Minnie was worried about what Daniel would eat since he mostly only wants to eat Whataburger.

On the day they left, she got up early, went to Whataburger, and ordered 10 buns and 10 patties separately. She packed them up in a cooler and flew them to Hawaii, so Daniel would have the food that made him comfortable. 

“Daniel was a happy guy eating Whataburger in Oahu,” Minnie said. 

When Adan Bernal moved to San Antonio before his senior year to play football at Antonian High School, he knew it’d mean having to sacrifice time with his closest friends back in Katy, Texas. But Adan, Avi, Jordan, Reid, Lavi, Alex, and Rodrigo all knew their bond was strong enough to overcome the distance.

“We’ve always had each other’s backs,” Avi Kaistha said. “Two hours apart didn’t feel like a big deal.”

The friends stayed in touch, and Adan made plans to attend senior prom back in Katy. To make it an extra-special evening, Jordan Schiffner suggested they enjoy a pre-prom meal at Whataburger, which was always a go-to spot for the boys.

“We were there at all hours, and they always served us with a smile,” Adan said.

Fancy Ketchup and Fancy Clothes

The boys all arrived at the restaurant together, but their moms told them to wait five minutes before coming in. While they waited, their moms helped Operating Partner Jesus Guzman and the rest of the staff prepare for their entrance.

The patrons who were already eating there didn’t know what to make of the sharp-dressed young men.

“The look on everyone’s face was hilarious,” Lavi Schwartz said. “We definitely had an entourage vibe.”

When they walked in, the restaurant was decorated with balloons, an inflatable arch, and a table full of gifts. As they ate, WhataGuy surprised them to help celebrate and make sure the meal would be one of the most memorable of their lives.

“They showed us so much love,” Adan said. “They walked us in and out and introduced us to the staff.”

For the boys, who had shared so many meals together in that dining room, it felt like a full-circle moment.

“It’s proof that the love we’ve had for Whataburger has always been mutual,” Avi said. “It’s not just a place we love; it’s a place that loves us back.”

We do things differently at Whataburger, and that includes being one of few companies in our industry with a quartet of women leading in the C-Suite — including President and CEO Debbie Stroud.

In a recent feature, QSR Magazine interviewed the women on Whataburger's executive leadership team, who all say they're following a trail blazed by Grace Dobson, who resisted pressures to step down and led the company for decades after the passing of her husband, founder Harmon Dobson.

“The nontraditional decision she made in the ’60s is a huge inspiration to the women of Whataburger,” said Peggy Rubenzer, Chief People Officer. “In each of our lives, we’ve had to make nontraditional decisions as well. Her strength of character is motivational for anyone who knows that story — and we all know it.”

Each with their own unique backgrounds and experiences, they bring perspectives as fresh as the ingredients our restaurants serve.

Read the full QSR Magazine story, and see some quotes from each of the women featured below. Note: Since this story was first published, Debbie Stroud became Whataburger President and CEO.

In the Whataburger test kitchen, Jacob Hurrell-Zitelman is known as the “Whatabarista,” the expert on all things coffee who is helping bring new flavors and trends to Whataburger’s coffee offerings.

For Jacob, it’s a journey that started brewing in his college dorm room. A business student and competitive swimmer at Trinity University, he saw a niche for cold brew coffee that was ready for college students to grab and go.

“We were literally brewing it in our dorm rooms for a while,” Jacob says. “But we quickly found out that wasn’t going to work. We didn’t realize how hard food manufacturing was.” 

The venture took off like a double shot to where Jacob and his now-wife Selena eventually had their own facility. They landed corporate accounts providing caffeine on the go to busy offices and even got the product onto grocery store shelves across Texas. 

Finding a Fit at Whataburger

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, those offices sent workers home, and the fledgling company found itself struggling. Jacob hung up his entrepreneurial hat and came to work in the Whataburger finance department.

Turns out, the timing couldn’t have been better. Whataburger was looking to expand its coffee offerings – and discovered they had a secret weapon hiding among the Excel spreadsheets.

“Working in finance was an amazing opportunity to learn a new side of the food business, but my love for launching products stayed with me,” Jacob says. “When the product development team found me, it was just the perfect fit.”

His first task? Working with suppliers to find the right beans to pair with Whataburger’s iconic menu.

"People may not realize how much care we put into sourcing our coffee,” Jacob says. “We spent months tasting hundreds of different single-origin coffees and blends until we found the highest-quality coffee to supply over 1000 restaurants.”

Perfecting a New Flavor

With the perfect base established, Whataburger keeps the coffee fresh with limited-time flavors.

Hurrell says new flavors take months—sometimes over a year—to develop. It’s a collaborative process that involves the product development team, distribution, marketing, accounting, and more.

Sometimes the idea comes from traveling, searching far and wide for flavors that will fit Whataburger’s menu.

“We get flavor inspiration from everywhere,” Jacob says. “We travel to other places around the country, go taste other food, experience other cultures and say, how does this resonate with us?"

Then, Executive Chef James Sanchez works with the product development team and our suppliers to formulate the flavors.

New flavors may go through a dozen iterations before making it to customers in a test market. With the customers' input, there may be several more iterations before the flavor gets introduced to every restaurant.

“Because it doesn't matter what we think,” Jacob says. “It matters what our customers think.”