"I wanted to get engaged in the critical actions of the community so I quickly joined the Whitewater Grocery Cooperative, the Rotary, League of Women Voters, the Historical Society, and the Greater Whitewater Committee."

This is Owner #592, Dwight Watson, the recent new Chancellor of UWW! We sat down to learn a little about him to find out his thoughts on becoming an Owner.

Tell me a little about yourself: job, hobbies, obsessions, etc.

I am the Chancellor at UW-Whitewater.  I moved to this community because of my position.  I am enjoying the closeness of the community in which I can easily walk to downtown, my church, and the university.  I live across from the public library on Church Street and that too is delightful because reading is one of my main passions along with writing, movie viewing, and traveling.

Why did you become an Owner of the GroCo?

I wanted to get engaged in the critical actions of the community so I quickly joined the Whitewater Grocery Cooperative, the Rotary, League of Women Voters, the Historical Society, and the Greater Whitewater Committee.  Need to find time to learn more about the Whitewater Arts Council.

What's your favorite recipe? Why? What is the recipe if you don't mind sharing?

I grew up in the South Carolina so Sunday dinner after church was the biggest meal of the week.  What I cook best is this South Carolina cuisine (soul food). My favorite is roast beef (pot roast baked in the oven for 2 hrs. in a Dutch oven) at 350 degrees.  Midway add carrots, red potatoes, and a white onion.  I serve this with a baked macaroni and cheese and lima (butter) beans.

What's the quirkiest/funniest thing that's ever happened to you in a grocery store?

I spent my years from ages 16 to 21 working at the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A & P) and Piggly Wiggly.  These jobs got me through high school and put me through college.  I have fond memories of stocking shelves, bagging groceries, and being a cashier.  On Saturday evenings, I would work with the store office clerk to balance the weekly accounts. My $3.50 an hour went a long way back in the late 70s and early 80s.