 The Hoots decision would again affect Burger King as it moved into the state of Texas . When Burger King expanded into the San Antonio area , it was prevented from utilizing the name of its signature product , the Whopper , in its local advertising and stores due to a prior state registered service mark owned by a local chain known as Whopper Burger . The chain , owned by Frank and Barbara Bates , prevented the company from using the name in Bexar County for several years until Mrs. Bates , the CEO of Whopper Burger after the death of her husband in 1983 , retired and sold the chain with its related trademarks to then @-@ corporate parent Pillsbury in the mid @-@ 1980s . 
