| ACE Celebrates Black History Month |
Granville T. WoodsOver the course of his career in mechanical and electrical engineering, Mr. Woods would come to hold more than 50 patents, including one widely used in the amusement industry. In 1892 he patented a transit improvement known today as the “third rail.” His invention allows electricity to power trains without the use of batteries or exposed wires. It came about because of the banning of exposed wiring in New York City, including wires that powered the city’s above-ground railways, requiring them to be moved underground. 
While his patent was originally inspired by the needs of the trains of New York City, he clearly understood the scalability and more wide-ranging use of the technology, as he himself called the invention an “Amusement Apparatus.” It was adapted for use in powered roller coasters, dark rides and slot cars. It was his Figure Eight Roller Coaster, at Coney Island that first demonstrated the use of his invention in the amusement industry. Fans of powered track rides are no doubt thankful to Mr. Woods and his contributions. EJ HillContemporary artist and coaster enthusiast EJ Hill was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1985. At the age of 22, Hill started attending Columbia College Chicago, where he would be greatly influenced by the work of Chris Burden and the conceptual art collaborative “Industry of the Ordinary”. After graduating, Hill returned to Los Angeles and studied at UCLA with Andrea Fraser and Jennifer Bolande. In October 2022, Hill's exhibit "Brake Run Helix" opened at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, including a functional, human-carrying roller coaster named Brava! created specifically for the museum. The roller coaster was fabricated by Skyline Attractions and was on exhibit for two years alongside his other works of art. Hill focuses on everyday experiences that intermingle public struggle, endurance, trauma and joy, whether within athletics, religion, the American education system or amusement parks. For Hill, roller coasters are public monuments to the possibility of attaining joy—which, as he notes, is “a critical component of social equity.” Dionté Henderson
Every VelociCoaster fan would be honored to shake the hand of Dionté Henderson! Henderson was the lead ride engineer for the Jurassic World VelociCoaster Ride System, from concept through commissioning, including …
Prior to VelociCoaster, he was an integral part of the Ride and Show Engineering team responsible for the conceptualization, design, development, and opening of Universal Orlando's newest water theme park, Universal's Volcano Bay. Dionté Henderson is a Ride & Show Engineer with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He continues to pursue his dream career in theme park/attraction engineering, design and planning with the Universal Creative division of Universal Destinations and Experiences. 
Dr. James E. WestThe next time a ride op instructs you to “pull down your lap bar,” you enjoy the presentations at one of ACE's many winter regional events or you listen to the “Ride With Us” podcast, think of Dr. James E. West. Dr. West, along with Gerhard Sessler, is the co-inventor of the polymer foil electret, a technology found in around 90% of all microphones produced today, as well as telephones, hearing aids and many, many more audio recording devices. It’s truly difficult to overstate the impact that Dr. West’s work has had on all of our lives. As a reflection of the importance of Dr. West’s accomplishments, he has received numerous awards, including:
Dr. West holds 47 U.S. patents and more than 200 foreign patents earned during his 
SuburbanGardensOne of our own, ACE member Luke Reynolds highlights the legacy of Suburban Gardens, the only amusement park to ever operate in Washington, D.C. Suburban Gardens was also a black-owned business where, unlike other parks at the time, all were welcome. Suburban Gardens operated from 1921 to 1940 and featured several attractions, including Deep Dipper, a John A. Miller roller coaster. |