FORNEY, Texas — There are plenty of problematic stereotypes for the fast food industry and fast food workers in particular, but with more than 46 years at Whataburger, Connie Claxton is living proof that with a good attitude and a lot of grit, you can make a rewarding career – and a lot of friends – serving burgers, breakfast, and hot coffee.
FORNEY, Texas — There are plenty of problematic stereotypes for the fast food industry and fast food workers in particular, but with more than 46 years at Whataburger, Connie Claxton is living proof that with a good attitude and a lot of grit, you can make a rewarding career – and a lot of friends – serving burgers, breakfast, and hot coffee.
John Heiman brought Whataburger to the Dallas area with a Mesquite franchise in 1969. Claxton was his sixth employee, and is now the longest serving employee of the 19 stores the franchise operates.
“People think, ‘Awww… someone just works for fast food,’ but you know what? I am as proud of this job as if I was president of American National Bank,” Claxton said. “That may sound crazy, but this is me, and I love it.”
As the years of service have accumulated, Claxton’s record was naturally recognized by her employer.
“Ms. Connie is here today, the same as she was 46 years ago,” said Johnny Heiman, son of the founder and current president of Whataburger of Mesquite. “She started as a cashier and eventually worked her way up, ending up in management for us and has done great work at several restaurants for us.”
Regular customers have become friends, coworkers have become like family, and one time while working at the Whataburger in Terrell, love blossomed.
“I have said that I had many benefits through the years, but the best benefit I ever got at Whataburger was the day my husband Glen asked me for a date,” Claxton said. “We had 30 wonderful years together.”
As the story goes, Glenn Claxton claimed that he had gone in to get a Whataburger, but came out with a “Whata-wife.”
In the years before his death in 2013, Glenn also could be found regularly in the Whataburger dining room sharing stories of his service during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
Nearly five decades of life brings ups and downs for everyone, and for Connie Claxton, her extended “Whataburger family” became a core part of her support through difficult times.
When she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, a network of friends, coworkers and church members rose up to get help her through it.
“We started a cancer care ministry about a year ago, and she had just found out she had breast cancer,” said Kirk Luecke, a minister at First Baptist Church of Forney. “She had also lost her husband, and we just loved her. It keeps us going, to see how we have been able to help her, and to see how many of the people battling cancer and surviving... and she really turns it around now to be supportive of other people.”
“Her face lights up when she talks to other people – you can see the love and passion that she has,” said Kristen Morgan, also on staff at First Baptist. “She plays both sides. After coming through last year she is now able to help others. It is what we are called to do as Christians. We are supposed to go out and share and let that light shine and she does that.”
With cancer surgeries now behind her, Claxton is back to work, which is just what she wants.
She noted that when her she was diagnosed with cancer, the company was very supportive, including a call from the John Heiman’s wife Joyce.
“When she found out I had cancer, she called me at home and asked what she could do personally, and what can the company do,” Claxton said. “My reply was, don’t let them take me off the schedule, and of course they didn’t do that.”
Coworkers, friends, and customers gathered Oct. 20 to welcome Claxton back to work, and she made it clear that retirement was not coming in the near future.
“I am totally overwhelmed by all of this, the last 46 years have been wonderful,” she said. “All of y’all have prayed for me and God has blessed my life beyond measure. I have gotten to the point in life where I don’t have to work, but I choose to work because I enjoy it. Not always is everything good, but when I go home at two or two-thirty, I am tired and I am content to be home, so the loneliness at home by myself doesn’t seem so bad.”
Customers returned the love, with good wishes and hopes for many more years of their “Ms. Connie” manning the Whataburger drive-through.
“There are a lot of people that love her,” said John Vrla, a morning regular. “You don’t see much anymore someone with the longevity and someone being dedicated to their workplace. She is a wonderful personality and we will just continue to be here for her.”