About Lonnie Johnson (inventor)
Lonnie George Johnson (born October 6, 1949) is an American inventor, aerospace engineer, and entrepreneur, best known for inventing the bestselling Super Soaker water gun in 1989. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force and worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. == Early life == Johnson was born in Mobile, Alabama, on October 6, 1949. His mother worked as a nurse's aide and his father, who did not finish high school, was a World War II veteran. He has five siblings. His father explained the basic principles of electricity to Johnson at an early age, inspiring his love of inventing. Stating that he "always liked to tinker with things," Johnson earned the nickname "the Professor" from neighborhood children, who often assisted him with his creations. He once tore up his sister's baby doll to see what made her eyes close. On another occasion, Johnson and his friends built a go-kart powered by a lawnmower motor that he had reconstructed from junkyard scraps. He also attempted to cook up rocket fuel in a saucepan on the kitchen stove, causing an explosion that nearly burned down his family's home.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.