Confessions of Bill McNeace

Bill McNeace, executive director of dining services at the University of North Texas in Denton, believes in real butter, can’t resist “True Blood” and thinks garlic mashed potatoes are a cop-out. 

Q. What is the best part of your job?

Working with UNT students. They are a blast! 

Q. What is the worst part of your job?

Articulating the complexity of higher education foodservice to senior officials, and the inherent pride and profit that [self-operated] foodservice brings to campus.

Q. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Successfully transitioning a contract management account to total self-op.  

Q. What is the most unusual foodservice/catering request you have ever received?

We once had the [university] president bringing us catfish to clean and cook for him.

Q. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My flexibility. I can’t remember the last time I could stand and touch my toes.

Q. What is your greatest fear?

Being misunderstood.

Q. What is your favorite meal?

Still searching for the perfect burger.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure?

“True Blood.”

Q. What will people always find in your refrigerator?

Real butter.

Q. What food fad do you wish had never started?

Not sure if it is a fad or not, but I always thought garlic mashed potatoes was a cop-out.

Q. What do you consider to be the most overrated foodservice trend?

Outsourcing foodservice.

Q. If you had a time machine what historical event or era would you visit?

I’m cool with our current time. I would have liked to get in on the ground floor of Microsoft or Apple.

Q. What would be your dream vacation?

Good beach, good book, good friends and good wine, mixed in with wife and daughter.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

An old Martin guitar. I also have a 1954 Seeburg jukebox, the model from “Happy Days.”