CAW Industries celebrates 40 years of Willard Water

RAPID CITY, S.D. — CAW Industries on Monday announced the 40-year anniversary of its Willard Water product. 

Founder of the company John Willard, Sr., was a professor of chemistry at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and former chemistry instructor at the Virginia Military Institute who had worked on the United States' atomic and plutonium bomb development teams during, and immediately after, World War II. Willard invented his Willard Water in 1964 while seeking to develop a high-density trace mineral water derived from fossilized organics in lignite.  

"Forty years in business is a very significant milestone, and we're incredibly proud to be here," stated John Willard III, CEO of CAW Industries. "I can say with complete confidence that my grandfather had no idea his 'serendipitous' discovery that day in the lab would lead our family down this path and create a successful business that would still be going strong after 40 years. It truly is a remarkable accomplishment, and we're incredibly grateful to the many partners, friends and customers whose strong support and loyalty have driven our success over the last 40 years."

CAW Industries recently launched a new PlantCatalyst product that will help anchor growth in the coming years, Willard said. "Despite the fact that we've been in business for 40 years, we still feel like we have a long way to go and that many exciting growth opportunities remain,"  Willard continued.  "The last five years have been the strongest period of growth in our company's history, and there are still many more ways in which my grandfather's invention can be used that have yet to be fully explored."

CBS' "60 Minutes" news program last year featured a segment on CAW Industries' Willard Water product.