07/27/2026
THOUGHTS ARE THINGS…….
In the early 1920s, Garrett Morgan was driving with two of his young sons when he witnessed a preventable accident at an intersection. An automobile collided with a horse-drawn cart, ejecting a young girl from the carriage. The horse was so badly injured that it had to be humanely euthanized in the middle of the street.
Many people would have seen tragedy and simply moved on.
Garrett Morgan saw a problem that needed solving.
That single moment became the seed of an idea.
On November 20, 1923, Morgan was granted a patent for his improved traffic signal. His invention introduced a third position—a caution signal between stop and go—giving drivers time to react before traffic changed direction.
After a public demonstration, General Electric purchased the rights to his patent for $40,000.
Although Morgan’s mechanical traffic signal was eventually replaced by electric systems, the most enduring part of his invention remains with us every day. We know it simply as the yellow light.
This story is a powerful reminder that thoughts are things.
A single observation became an idea.
An idea became an invention.
An invention became a legacy that has helped make roads safer for millions around the world.
The next time you stop at a yellow light, remember the man whose compassionate thinking transformed a moment of tragedy into a lasting contribution to humanity. Garrett Morgan.
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