On May 5, 2006, Inventor Granville T. Woods was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.

The Inventors Hall of Fame was established in 1973 by the National Council of Patent Law Associations, now the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Associations, and the Patent and Trademark Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Columbus, Ohio native Woods invented the railroad telegraph in the late 19th century, making it possible for moving trains to communicate with other trains and with stations.

A genius with little formal education, and a machinist early in his career, Granville developed:

• telephone technology
• battery technology
• steam boiler technology
• 3rd rail technology (used by electric trains today)

Why does it take so long for black history people to be formally recognized for incredible contributions? One reason, tied to discrimination, is because like Lewis H. Latimer and others, Woods was not able to benefit from his intellectual property.

Granville Woods signed away most of his patent rights, so when he passed away in 1910, he had little money to show for his great inventions.

Thank you National Inventors Hall of Fame, for inducting one of America's great inventors, Granville T. Woods.