As part of the celebration of Black History Month, Sandra Morgan, granddaughter of Garrett Morgan, joined Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and representatives from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to declare March 4 “Garrett Morgan Day” in Cuyahoga County.
Ronayne made the announcement at the Garrett Morgan High School Campus, home to the Garrett Morgan School of Engineering & Innovation as well as the Garrett Morgan School Leadership & Innovation.
March 4 is Morgan’s birthday.
An innovator and an overcomer
Morgan, who was born in Kentucky in 1879 and moved to Cleveland in 1895, is remembered for his entrepreneurial spirit and his many inventions. He may be best known for creating the modern day traffic light and gas mask. His legacy is celebrated locally most notably in two buildings bearing his name, the school and the Garrett A. Morgan Water Treatment Plant.
Ronayne called Morgan an innovator defining his work as an important part of modern day society. And the county executive reminded everyone the inventor overcame obstacles that still exist.
“He found a way to break through despite the forces against him, the forces of racism in his community and in our country,” Ronayne said at a Monday news conference. “He found a path so we stand on his shoulders.”
In November, descendants of the accomplished businessman and publisher celebrated the re-dedication of a replica of his multi-directional traffic signal on the 100th anniversary of its invention.
Reaching out to the community
Sandra Morgan told students that, beyond running his businesses and inventing, her grandfather gave a lot of thought to his community and to his family.
“He cared deeply about his family, he cared deeply about his community, and he wanted to contribute in every way that he could,” Sandra Morgan said.
Morgan co-founded the Cleveland Association of Colored Men. The group’s mission: To improve economic conditions in the Black community. That group eventually merged with The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
In 1916 he joined a group that founded the Cleveland Call newspaper, which focused on the Black community. In 1928, Morgan’s paper merged with The Post to form the paper we now know as The Call and Post.
