Miller historic invention accepted by Patrick Air Force Base for $65
By Purvette A. Bryant-Chapman
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FL – Jessie Miller, a crane operator at Patrick Air Force Base and a trailblazer in black history, invented “Edging of Streets and Sidewalks” that reportedly received a U.S. patent and was purchased as an “approved suggestion” by Patrick for $65 in 1975.
Yolanda Moragne, Miller’s granddaughter, congratulates her grandfather for his accomplishment on January 30, 1975 and that he was honored for a major contribution to society.
“While a crane operator, he came up with the idea and presented it to Patrick Air Force and they acknowledged him,” said Moragne of Cocoa. “I think that’s excellent for my grandfather to know he had an idea that would help Patrick Air Force Base to go further. And he played a part in it. They cheated him. It was not a fair giving, $65. They knew what he accomplished wasn’t something they came up with, and they took advantage of it. Use it to their advantage and are still using it today.”
According to a letter dated January 10, 1975 from Vincent A. Bellomo, Chief Civilian Personnel Branch of the Department of the Air Force, at Patrick Air Force Base, Miller was commended for the “Approved Suggestion for Edging of Streets and Sidewalks”
“I am pleased to inform you that the suggestion which was submitted by Mr. Jessie Miller of your organization has been approved by the Incentive Awards Committee.” Miller was at Patrick Air Force Base for 26 years of federal service and retired. Moragne said her grandfather “worked, had so much sick and vacation time saved until he didn’t use his retirement until after five years.”
When Miller received the award, he didn’t come home and brag or boast, Moragne said. In addition to the award, Miller was an entrepreneur who built housing. “Being that my grandfather came up with a farm, only with a third-grade education, he also built his home and an apartment building and they are still standing today,” she said.
In 1948, President Harry Truman ended segregation in the military, and new opportunities opened up for African Americans to serve. Moragne believes her grandfather took advantage of the opportunity through his enlistment in the Navy.
Miller, born Oct. 3, 1917, grew up on the family pig farm in Clover, South Carolina where he and his seven siblings raised pigs, farmed the land, and endured the racist Jim Crow South. The family-owned a smokehouse and supplied the local community with fresh meat.
Miller joined the Navy in his 20s and served several years, landing on the Space Coast of Florida for service where he met and married his wife, Rosa Lee Walker Miller who cooked on the Air Force base.
“My grandmother was a great supporter of my grandfather,” Moragne said. “They supported each other. And my grandmother helped him because he couldn’t read. Granddaddy even had us as children to read his mail to him. We’d read it to him and he’d give us a quarter to go to the store and get some chips. He was an amazing man.”
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