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Elijah McCoy The "real McCoy," known for his groundbreaking inventions in lubrication systems that allowed trains to move with ease by automatically and continuously applying oil to keep train parts lubricated.

Lewis Latimer made significant contributions to transportation and lighting technology. He developed air conditioning for trains, improving passenger comfort by filtering debris from the air, and advanced the electric lightbulb with tungsten filaments that greatly extended their lifespan compared to carbon.

Granville T. Woods Renowned for his innovations including the Telegraphony and Multiplex Telegraph in technology and the rail industry, revolutionized communication and train location services nationwide, pioneering the "third rail" with his brother Lyates Woods and amassing nearly 60 patents, cementing his legacy as a pivotal late 19th and early 20th-century inventor.

“Stagecoach” Mary Field The first African-American woman to become a Star Route Carrier for the United States Post Office Department in Montana. Her legacy lives on as a protector of mail and an emblem of Black empowerment.

Andrew Beard After losing his leg due to a rail accident. Beard developed the first automatic method for coupling railroad cars, the Jenny Coupler. His invention reduced the dangers of working on the railroad.

Bessie Coleman Inspired by stories of French women pilots. Coleman became the first black American woman to earn a pilot's license. Her fearless pursuit of her dreams paved the way for black Americans in aviation and demonstrated the interconnectedness between aviation and logistics.

Garrett Morgan Proclaimed by many as the “Black Edison,” A true pioneer of inventions in multiple industries, Morgan's work improved and saved countless lives worldwide. After witnessing a tragic crash, he invented the ​​three-position traffic signal, which stopped traffic in both directions and allowed pedestrians to cross streets with greater safety.

Frederick McKinley Jones Jones invented the Thermo King, an automatic long-haul refrigeration system used in trains, trucks and ships. Prior to his invention only canned produce could be shipped and distributed in grocery stores.

Arcola Philpott The first black American female streetcar operator. Arcola's unwavering dedication not only improved transportation through city transits but also provided access to previously underserved communities.

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Lois Cooper The first female transportation engineer hired in Caltrans' Engineering Department, playing pivotal roles in major projects like the Century Freeway and becoming the inaugural female director of what evolved into today's carpool, or High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV), lanes.

(Photo credit Caltrans, 1960)

The Honorable William Thaddeus Coleman Jr.
The first African American to clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court. President Gerald Ford appointed him Secretary of Transportation and drafted the first Statement of National Transportation Policy in U.S. history.

Rodney Earl Slater Appointed by President Clinton, Slater became the youngest commissioner and the first African American to serve the Arkansas Highway Commission. In 1993, Clinton named Slater director of the Federal Highway Administration, making him the agency’s first African American administrator in its hundred-year history.