Hudson Collins, who honorably served his country in World War II, visited his local Whataburger each day for breakfast and dinner. He began the routine after his wife, who took care of all the cooking, died 15 years ago and considered the restaurant staff to be his extended family.
Whataburger paid homage to Collins by throwing him a party when he turned 94 and giving him free meals on Veterans Day to thank him for his service. He enjoyed dining on gravy and biscuits along with several packets of grape jelly.
Collins died on January 22, and his absence was quickly noticed at Whataburger. After a few days, one of Collins’ sons stopped by the restaurant to explain what happened. The family held the funeral service and decided to go visit the Whataburger afterward since it had played such an important role in Collins’ life.
Upon arriving, the family was absolutely floored by what they saw. Collins’ granddaughter shouted with joy and pointed at the restaurant’s large marquee, which read “RIP Mr. Hudson.” The family could not express how grateful they were for that small act of love. They also enjoyed a complimentary meal as a final tribute to Collins.