Lonnie George Johnson (75)

On May 27, 1986, the U.S. Patent Office granted a patent
to  African American inventor Lonnie Johnson for his toy       
design simply titled ”Squirt Gun.”

       
After a few name changes and additional patents,
Johnson’s invention—ultimately re-named the
“Super Soaker®”—would become the best-selling
water toy of all time, eventually earning its rightful
place in the American National Toy Hall of Fame.       

Johnson was formerly employed at the U.S. Air
Force/ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory^.

The National Toy Hall of Fame located in the outdoor Hasbro Game Park at The Strong National Museum of Play in
Rochester, New York.