Whitcomb L. Judson Whitcomb L. Judson Whitcomb L. Judson (March 7, 1846 – December 7, 1909) was an American machine salesman, mechanical engineer and inventor. Judson invented the zipper in the 1890s. Judson was born in Chicago, Illinois. According to the 1860 census, he lived in Illinois, and served in the Union army. He enlisted in 1861 at Oneida, Illinois in the Forty-Second Illinois Cavalry. Judson attended Knox College in his hometown Galesburg, Illinois. He was found in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1886. In 1886 and 1887 the Minneapolis city directory identifies Judson as a "traveling agent" — a traveling salesman working probably for
Paul Judson Paul Judson Paul Judson (born April 10, 1934) is a former American basketball player. He was selected as the twelfth pick in the 1956 NBA draft, but did not play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In high school, he helped lead Alden-Hebron High School to the 1952 Illinois high school basketball state championship. Judson served as the team captain for the 1955–56 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team and helped guide them to an 18–4 record. He was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press in his final college season. His brother, Howie Judson, played for the