Famous Ohioans: Garrett Morgan

Pick up a copy of this Weekender (Feb. 19-20) newspaper that includes a special section containing profiles of Famous Ohioans. Garrett Morgan Inventor Vital Statistics Birthdate: March 4, 1877 Birthplace: Claysville, Kentucky Death: July 27, 1963 Age at death: 86 Burial Location: Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland. Spouse: Mary Hasek Children: John P. Morgan, Garrett A. Morgan Jr., Cosmo Morgan. Quote: "I had but a little schooling but I am a graduate from the school of hard knocks and cruel treatment. I have personally saved nine lives." – Garrett Morgan Roles • Opened Morgan's Cut Rate Ladies Clothing Store in 1909. • Launched G. A. Morgan Hair Refining Company in 1913. Education • Morgan was only in school through sixth grade, but later hired a private tutor to continue his education. Important Events • Morgan received a patent for the smoke hood, a precursor of the gas mask, in 1914 and founded his National Safety Device Company. The utility of the smoke hood received a dramatic demonstration on July 24, 1916, after a tunnel explosion under Lake Erie. After two other rescue attempts failed because of the noxious fumes and dust, Morgan made four trips into the tunnel using his smoke hood, assisted by his brother and two volunteers, and succeeded in bringing several people out. • After witnesses an accident in an intersection in Cleveland, Morgan invented and received a patent for a traffic signal device that not only had "stop" and "go" but also had a warning light to warn approaching drivers they would need to stop. It was the precursor of the modern three signal traffic light. Morgan was reportedly the first Black man in Cleveland to own a car. • Morgan was a member of the NAACP, was active in the Cleveland Association of Colored Men, donated money to Negro colleges and founded a Black newspaper, the Cleveland Call (later the Call and Post).