Texas Pride on Parade
Fourth-Grader Honors Whataburger with Fiesta Float
At Coker Elementary in San Antonio, a parade of fourth-graders and their shoebox-sized Fiesta floats rolled down the hall to the strains of a mariachi band, while parents and younger students lined the hallways to cheer.
In this uniquely San Antonio tradition, the floats mimicked in miniature the parade entries in the city’s 11-day celebration of Texas independence. With a theme of Texas history, there were Alamo replicas, explosions of bluebonnets, and odes to the oil and gas industry.
Then, there was Elin Stolhandske’s entry. A tribute to a true Texas icon.
What’s more Texas than Whataburger? It’s a Texas Classic.
Elin, who’s a big fan of the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich, had done her research for the float and could rattle off an impressive listing of Whataburger history.
“I learned that Whataburger started in 1950 in Corpus Christi, and the very first burger only cost 25 cents,” she wrote in a letter to the Home Office. “I think that’s super cool.”
Then, she asked for a little help with her float décor.
“I’d really like to include a table tent or table number from Whataburger, but I don’t want to take one from a restaurant,” she asked. “Would it be possible to get one for my float?”
We figured for a fan like Elin, we could do a little better, so we invited her and her family for a visit to headquarters for a tour, and let her take her pick of Whataburger-themed swag to decorate.
The result? An iconic float featuring a bedazzled replica A-Frame complete with pole sign, orange and white roses, and a table tent featuring 5, Elin’s favorite number.
Her family, all decked out in Whataburger gear, was there to cheer her on as Elin was crowned the fourth-grade princess for her school’s Fiesta Court, and proudly pulled her float down hallways lined with cheering classmates.
For mom Tina, watching with pride as Elin’s Fiesta dreams came to life, it was a moment of connection with a Texas brand already a family staple.
“We were already happy customers,” she said. “But we’re customers for life and smiling a little bigger every time we visit.”