02/08/2026
Dennis W. Weatherby was a Black scientist who, at age 27, led the team at Procter & Gamble to develop the chemical formula for Cascade, the lemon-scented, bleach-safe liquid automatic dishwasher detergent that became a major success.
He was born in Brighton, Alabama, in 1960 and received his Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Central State University in 1982 and a Master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton in 1984.
Key innovation: Weatherby's team developed a formula using dyes that were safe with bleach and would not stain dishes, unlike previous products that used pigments which often stained.
Career: After graduating, he joined Procter & Gamble, where his breakthrough led to the development of the lemon-scented Cascade, which he received a patent for in 1987.
Legacy: Weatherby also became a strong advocate for minority students in STEM fields, notably as the founding director of Auburn University's Minority Engineering Program.
