Jim Watson knew the supermarket industry inside and out, having worked his way from the bottom to the top.
"He knew every job that he supervised because he had done it all," said his son Peter Watson.
James A. (Jim) Watson died June 20 at Jones-Harrison Residence in Minneapolis. He was 91.
A Minneapolis native, he attended Kenwood School and West High School. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where he received a degree in psychology and English. During World War II, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
When he returned from the war, Watson took a job at Red Owl Stores, the Twin Cities' largest retail grocery chain during the 1950s and '60s. He started at the bottom and worked his way up, working as a butcher and eventually becoming the CEO.
Three years after Red Owl was purchased by Gamble Skogmo, a retail chain based in St. Louis Park, Watson became president of Gamble Skogmo.
After his time with Gamble and a short period working in Canada, Watson went on to become president and chairman of the board of the National Food Stores supermarket chain, based in Chicago.
Watson not only was a business executive, he also was a mentor, said his daughter, Lucia Watson.