Down the Lane: Proud to be a Kentuckian, wish others were, too

It is no secret I am proud to be a Kentuckian. Everywhere I travel I let others know about our beautiful state.

I am always amazed to learn about things invented by Kentuckians.

This week I learned of another inventor from Kentucky.

I was amazed to learn the traffic signal light was invented by someone from Paris, Kentucky.

Garrett Morgan was born to formerly enslaved parents. They lived in the Claysville neighborhood in Paris.

When he was only 14, Garrett went to Cincinnati to find work. He ended up settling in Cleveland where he witnessed a horrible accident while he was driving. It was at that point he envisioned a way to keep accidents from happening.

His first idea was that of a T shaped pole that read Stop and Proceed.

It was in 1922 he filed a patent for a three-position traffic signal much like we know today. The third position helped traffic go smoother for all involved. The pedestrians felt safer, and needless to say, the driver did too.

Since this invention, scholarships are given in Garret Morgan’s honor along with building names and other honors.

This intelligent man also was the inventor of the gas mask soldiers and firefighters use today. It amazed me how creative he was.

According to an article in Kentucky Monthly by Anita Richter, there is a historical marker for him on Vine Street in Paris near the railroad tracks where his school once stood.

I can only imagine the chaos our world would be in without his inventions.

While I am Kentucky proud, it gets harder to take pride in our state because of littering.

I wish someone would invent a way to catch the litter bugs who take the beauty of Kentucky for granted and have no pride in our state. I get so frustrated at the people who could not care less about our environment or the beauty of our state.

I read in another magazine you do not see trash along the highways out west.

What do we need to do to get others involved in showing pride for our state so we can be Kentucky proud all the time?

I have pulled into a parking place in Walmart only to find dirty diapers left by a person too lazy to take the diaper to a trash can.

There needs to be a crackdown on people who throw their cigarette butts on the ground or any trash that litters our areas.

If I catch anyone doing this I will bring it to their attention or report it.

I also think we need inmates out cleaning up our roadways.

I think we need higher fines and an update on litter laws.

Maybe we could do a reminder in the schools.

It seems it is usually the good groups of people who are cleaning up the messes of others. This should not be.

After all, they could be using their time to be an inventor.

Who knows what a Kentuckian may invent next.

I still think good citizenship usually comes from being taught at home.

Garrett Morgan had to have been taught hard work or he would not have been bold enough to start out on his own at the age of 14 to work. He used his mind for good.

Remind your children and grandchildren to take care of their communities. Teach them about Garrett Morgan and get their minds thinking. Who knows what may happen.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers. 

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