On this day, the 27th, during Black History Month, we honor Lonnie George Johnson — a brilliant inventor, aerospace engineer, Air Force veteran, and entrepreneur whose imagination changed the toy industry forever.
Best known for inventing the iconic Super Soaker in 1989 (released in 1990), Johnson turned a backyard experiment with pressurized water into one of the best-selling toys of all time. What started as a creative side project while working as a NASA engineer quickly became a global phenomenon, bringing epic summer battles and joy to millions of families.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Johnson’s curiosity was evident early on. As a child, he took apart toys to understand how they worked and even built a go-cart from scrap materials and a lawnmower engine. That same innovative spirit carried him through his career at NASA, where he worked on advanced aerospace missions before launching his own company, Johnson Research And Development.
Beyond the Super Soaker, Johnson holds more than 250 patents across energy technology, engineering systems, and consumer products. In 2022, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall Of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of America’s great innovators.
In 2013, Johnson reached a $73 million settlement with Hasbro after a royalty dispute involving Super Soaker and related Nerf products — a milestone that underscored the importance of fair recognition and compensation for creators.
Lonnie Johnson’s journey proves that innovation, determination, and belief in your ideas can transform the world. His work didn’t just create a toy — it reshaped an industry and inspired generations of dreamers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
This Black History Month, we celebrate his brilliance, his service, and his lasting impact on American ingenuity.
