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Inventor of clumping cat litter dies
Reuters, 08.01.02, 7:11 PM ET
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The man credited with
inventing clumping cat litter and perfecting Liquid Paper
correction fluid was remembered Thursday by family and
friends as a gifted scientist whose work found wide use.
Polymer chemist William Mallow also worked on the space
shuttle's heat-resistant tiles, developed a way to artificially
age Scotch whiskey and improved the rubber skin used on robot
dinosaurs at Walt Disney World.
Mallow, a native of Akron, Ohio, died of leukemia at age 72
in a San Antonio hospital Tuesday. He worked for the
Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio until his 1998
retirement.
"Bill was a unique, energetic individual with an ability to
use chemistry to create some very practical and down-to-earth
products. He was a people's chemist with an enthusiasm and love
for invention that he shared with everyone," said Dr. Robert
Bass, a colleague at the Southwest Research Institute.
Mallow developed cat litter that clumped together around
urine and other waste, allowing the box to be cleaned daily
with ease.
While at the institute, Mallow also helped Liquid Paper
inventor Bette Nesmith Graham refine her creation.
The U.S. Air Force veteran's latest project was a slippery
gel dubbed the Mobility Denial System. Designed to foil attacks
on government buildings and control crowds, it can be sprayed
on any surface and causes people to slip and fall and prevents
vehicles from getting traction.
It could be deployed by the U.S. Marine Corps next year.
Mallow's funeral is scheduled for Friday.
Copyright 2002, Reuters News Service
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