Howie Judson, former White Sox pitcher, dies at 95
Howie Judson graduated from Hebron High School nine years before the Giants achieved basketball immortality, but the mark he made on that team was indelible.
The former All-State basketball player taught his twin brothers Paul and Phil, nine years younger, the fundamentals of sports. Howie, who pitched seven years in the major leagues, was their hero.
In 1952, just after Howie had headed to California to spring training with the White Sox, Paul and Phil led Hebron (now Alden-Hebron) to the Illinois High School Association boys basketball state championship in a 64-59 overtime victory over Quincy.
The Giants, with an enrollment of 98 students, were the smallest school ever to win in the one-class system.
Howie Judson, remembered as one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of McHenry County, died Aug. 18 in a Winter Haven, Fla., nursing home at 95.
According to Baseball-Almanac.com, Judson was the 14th-oldest living former major leaguer.
Judson leaves behind a remarkable legacy. He was named to the Champaign News-Gazette All-State basketball team, the first of four in his family to earn that honor, played baseball and basketball at Illinois, then pitched for the White Sox and Cincinnati over a seven-year major league career.
He played golf until about two years ago. Paul and Phil said after Howie fell and broke a hip, he had to stop playing. Paul and Phil Judson also were named All-State players by the News-Gazette, and later Rob Judson, Phil's son, also was selected as an All-Stater. Phil coached Rob at Zion-Benton and Rob went on to become a college coach, including at Northern Illinois.
Paul Judson also coached basketball at Dundee High School and at Hampshire High School, including the 1978 Dundee girls team that reached the state finals.
"Howie helped make us the basketball players that we were," Phil Judson said. "He led a good life. We had a good time together. He's in a good place right now."
• Daily Herald high school sports editor John Radtke contributed to this story.