2015

2015 is the 144th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• January 11: The former Cleburn Avenue in Powderly was renamed Heron Johnson Drive to honor the pastor's efforts in establishing Seven Springs EcoScape.
• February 9: Following a federal court ruling, probate courts in Alabama approved the state's first marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Olanda Smith and Dianah McCaryeo were the first to exchange vows at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
• February 9: A MAX bus overturned in Fairfield.
• March 16: The new building for the Birmingham Police Department West Precinct was dedicated in honor of Leroy Stover.
• March 26: President Barack Obama delivered remarks on the economy at Lawson State Community College.
• March 30: Yaacov Agam's "Complex Vision" was re-installed at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital after restoration.
• April 10: Mountain Brook's Cahaba River Park was dedicated.
• May 19: Noah Galloway finished third on Dancing With the Stars.
• June 3: Eleven convenience stores were raided and closed down in Operation T-Bone.
• June 26: A hole opened up in the concrete deck of the Red Mountain Expressway bridge over University Boulevard.
• June 26: Jefferson County Probate Court resumed issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.
• July 18-19: The inaugural Sloss Music & Arts Festival was held at Sloss Furnaces.
• August 1: The 2nd Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest was held at Railroad Park.
• August 27: A pilot died when his single-engine plane crashed near the Shelby County Airport.
• August 27-30: The 17th Sidewalk Film Festival was held.
• September 27-October 1: The 2015 International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies conference was held at the Sheraton Birmingham.
• October 10: Trinity Hospital moved its patients and operations from its Montclair Road campus to its new location in the Grandview Medical Center.
• Oakmont United Methodist Church merged into Trinity United Methodist Church (Edgewood).
• November 14-17: The 38th Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan and the Japan-U.S Southeast Associations was hosted in Birmingham.
• November 21: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a rally at the BJCC.
• December 31: DJ Bassnectar headlined a New Years Eve show at Legacy Arena.

Business

• January 2: HealthSouth acquired the Dallas, Texas-based Encompass Home Health and Hospice for $750 million.
• January: The Moretti apartments were sold to Raia Properties of New Jersey for $24.6 million.
• January: U. S. Steel warned that up to 1,600 employees at its Fairfield Works and Fairfield Tubular divisions could face layoffs due to lessened demand for steel pipe.
• American Family Care moved its corporate headquarters to 3700 Cahaba Beach Road.
• James Lewis merged his Bettola restaurant with his neighboring Vittoria restaurant and butcher shop.
• February: EBSCO acquired YBP Library Services of Contoocook, New Hampshire and All Current Electrical Sales of Pennsauken, New Jersey.
• April: Style Advertising acquired Ballard Advertising.
• May 27: Alabama Power Company's "Alabama NewsCenter" launched.
• June: Birmingham Coal & Coke, Cahaba Contracting & Reclamation and RAC Mining filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, with the Alabama State Lands Division as their primary creditor.
• Tortuga's pizzeria opened a new location in the Parkside district.
• Corporate Realty Development moved from the Saks building to the former Merita Bakery in the Parkside district.
• Coyote Logistics moved its offices from Two Perimeter Park to the Saks building on 1st Avenue North.
• Ally Risk Services acquired the J. H. Berry Insurance Agency‎.
• Alabama Telco Credit Union changed its name to Avadian Credit Union.
• Intermark Group acquired the Tampa, Florida-based advertising firm DynaMedia of America.
• Superior Metal Products acquired the Mason Corp. and changed its name to Superior Mason Products.
• Walter Energy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
• August 18: U.S. Steel announced the permanent closure of its Fairfield Works blast furnace.
• October 12: Erica Schmidt and Bryan Stanfield took over ownership of Trattoria Centrale.
• November 17: U.S. Steel shut down the blast furnace at Fairfield Works.

Establishments

• January 17: The Gardendale Historical Society opened a museum.
• January: Owl's Hollow Farm opened a farm store in Bluff Park.
• SKKY nightclub opened at Five Points South.
• Brava Rotisserie Grill opened on 20th Street North.
• Unipres Alabama Inc. opened in Steele.
• BYOB Restaurant & Bar opened on 29th Street South in Lakeview.
• March 12: Brent Fielder opened a Chick Fil-A on U.S. Highway 280 at Greystone.
• March 17: Mr. Harry's Chickin De-Lux opened at Mt Laurel.
• April 2: Adam Williams opened Birmingham Oddities in the Fix-Play Lofts building.
• May 1: Avondale's Saturn opened with a free concert by Austin's Mother Falcon orchestra.
• Rowe's opened in Avondale.
• August 21: Paradise Biryani Pointe opened at The Plaza at Riverchase
• September 22: Ace Graham opened the Alchemy boutique on 20th Street North.
• September 24: Band of Brothers Brewing Company opened in Tuscaloosa.
• October: Quentin Mack and Kerry Collins opened their Exclusive Apparel boutique at Pickwick Plaza.
• October 6: Chris Hastings' Ovenbird restaurant opened at Pepper Place.
• October 6: Grille 29 opened in the former McCormick & Schmick's building at Brookwood Village.
• October 6: Over Easy opened a second restaurant at Dolly Creek Station.
• October 8: AdventureKEEN publishing was formed from Keen Communications' acquisition of Adventure Press of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• December: The Filling Station opened at Crestwood Shopping Center.
• December 14: Chipotle opened at 20 Midtown.
• December 18: Your Pie opened at Homewood's SoHo Square.

Disestablishments

• January: Cinema Blue and Pleasure Books East were closed.
• January 31: V. Richard's market closed.
• February 1: Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill at Brookwood Village closed after losing its lease.
• February: Athenahealth's Birmingham office at Liberty Park closed.
• February: Fashion retailer Harold & MOD closed.
• February: Stone's Throw Bar & Grill at Mt Laurel closed.
• March 31: Bottletree closed.
• May: Simply Fashions filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and began liquidating stores.
• May 2: The Mansion nightclub in North Birmingham was destroyed by fire.
• Sterne Agee was acquired by Stifel of St Louis, Missouri.
• Belle Vista Mobile Home Park
• Relax, It's Handled
• July 28: The Atlantis Entertainment & Event Center was shut down by the Birmingham City Council.
• September 30: The Baskits closed.
• October 24: Continental Bakery Downtown closed.
• December 31: War Eagle Supper Club closed.

Education

• Spencer Horn took over as interim Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools.
• February 10: 2015 Birmingham property tax referendum
• July 1: Kelley Castlin-Gacutan took over as Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools.

Government

See also 2015 Birmingham budget

• May 28: Bessemer broke ground on a new Bessemer City Hall.
• August 7: The Birmingham City Council voted 7-1 to raise its salary from $15,000 a year to $50,000, effective in 2017.
• December: Birmingham City Council president Johnathan Austin made major changes to the council's committee structure and assignments.
• December 15: Mayor William Bell and City Council member Marcus Lundy got into a physical altercation at City Hall.

Sports

WIlder vs Molina title bout, June 13, 2015 at Bartow Arena.

• January 1: The 2014 Alabama Crimson Tide football team lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, failing to advance into the first-ever Division I College Football Playoff Championship Game.
• January 3: The Florida Gators defeated the East Carolina Pirates 28-20 in the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field.
• January 17: Boxer Deontay Wilder defeated Bermane Stiverne by unanimous decision, claiming the WBC world heavyweight title.
• February 6-8: The Arkansas Razorbacks won the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference Men's Hockey Championship at the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena
• February 22: Joseph Amenya won the Mercedes Marathon with a time of 2:19:09.
• March 10-March 14: Michigan State Spartans won the American Collegiate Hockey Association's Division III Men's Hockey National Championship at the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena
• March 14: The 2015 UAB Blazers men's basketball team won the 2015 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament with a 73-60 victory over the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders at Legacy Arena.
• March 19: The 14th seed UAB Blazers men's basketball team upset #3 seed Iowa State Cyclones 60-59 in the 2nd round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
• March 21: The UAB Blazers men's basketball team lost to the UCLA Bruins 92-75 in the 3rd round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
• April 26: Josef Newgarden won the Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.
• May 3: Dale Earnhardt, Jr won the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
• May 17: Jeff Maggert won the Regions Tradition with par on the first playoff hole.
• June 1: UAB president Ray Watts announced the planned reinstatement of the Blazers football, women's bowling and rifle teams.
• June 13: Deontay Wilder successfully defended his WBC Heavyweight belt against Eric Molina in a title bout at Bartow Arena.
• June 27: Cyclist Brian Toone finished 7th in the solo men's division of the 3,004-mile "Race Across America" endurance race with a time of 10 days, 14 hours and 20 minutes.
• September 20: The Women's World Cup champion U.S. national soccer team played a friendly against Haiti at Legion Field.
• September 26: Deontay Wilder knocked out Johann Duhaupas at Legacy Arena to defend his WBC World Heavyweight title. The fight was broadcast in prime time on NBC.
• Birmingham Freedom

Individuals

• February 1: Collin Gaston succeeded the retiring Lou Kirchen as general manager of Fox 6.
• February 19: Joey Kennedy was fired from the Alabama Media Group.
• April 5: Avery Johnson accepted an offer to succeed Anthony Grant as coach the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.
• May: Richard Jacks left his work as a broadcast meteorologist at WVTM-TV to focus on his real estate career.
• September 11: Shannon Ealy's position of senior associate athletic director for UAB was eliminated.
• November 1: ​Jon Chalmers began his term as president of Holy Family Cristo Rey High School.

Awards

• Alabama Academy of Honor: Richard Arrington, Raymond Harbert, Bo Jackson, Charles Krulak, Caroline Novak and Randy Owen
• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame: Mart Avant, Rick Bell, Daniel Jose Carr, Marion Evans, Jean Kittrell, Gary Motley, George E. Washington, Fred Wesley Jr, John Hayden, Robert Horton, Don Jones, Hal Kemp, Al Killian, Jack Marshall, Phelton Simmons, Eb Swingle, Ward Swingle
• Alabama Lawyers Hall of Fame:
• Alabama Men's Hall of Fame: Albert Rains
• Alabama Music Hall of Fame: Chuck Leavell, Donna Jean Godchaux, Johnny Sandlin, Wet Willie
• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame: Jay Barker, Evander Holyfield, Chris Gray, Tony Richardson, Bobby Hunt, Derrick McKey, Ennis Whatley, and Tommy Neville
• Alabama Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Brown, Vestavia Hills High School
• Alabama Women's Hall of Fame: Kathryn Tucker Windham
• Alabama Writers Hall of Fame:
• Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame: Bill Greason, John McNamara, Doug Segrest, and Bo Landreth
• Birmingham Business Hall of Fame: Charles Krulak, Don Logan, Stephen Moxley, and Erskine Ramsay
• Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens:
• Bobby Bowden Collegiate Coach of the Year Award:
• Legend of Birmingham Award:
• Miss Alabama: Meg McGuffin (Miss Phenix City)
• Miss Alabama USA: Madison Guthrie
• Miss Birmingham: Susanna Bagwell
• Miss Samford: Madison Smith
• Miss Shelby County: Amanda Ford
• Miss UAB: Melanie Roberts
• Mr Football:
• Presidential Medal of Freedom: Willie Mays
• Vulcan Awards: Judy Merritt (Lifetime Achievement, posthumous); Noah Galloway, Zenko Hrynkiw and Vanessa Jones (Hero Awards); Sandra Ford, Henry Ford, Kerri Pruitt, and Tonya Willingham (Servant Leadership Awards); Bill Clark, Anthony Hood, John Lyons Jr (Game Changer Awards); John Stewart III, Matt Crane, and Kaneshia Sims (Newcomer Awards)
• Rona Jaffe Writer's Foundation Award: Ashley Jones

Marriages

• February 9: Olanda Smith and Dianah McCaryeo

Retirements

• January 16: Caryl Privett, 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama
• Judy Bonner, president of the University of Alabama
• April 1: Irondale Police chief Jerry McIntosh
• May: Charles Krulak, president of Birmingham-Southern College
• November 1: Jack Lowther, presiding judge, Jefferson County District Court civil division
• December 31: Donald James, chairman of Vulcan Materials

Deaths

• January 15: Sam Wehby, founder of All South Properties
• January 15: Gonzo, a bald eagle at the Birmingham Zoo
• January 17: Maxine Sykes, restaurateur
• January 28: Patsy Collat, Mayer Electric executive
• January 29: Ray Mohl, urban historian
• February 7: Glenn Ireland II, Vulcan Materials executive
• February 13: Bobbie Jo Parsons
• March 10: U.S. Pipe supervisor Van Williams
• March 17: Marguerite Harbert
• March 25: John Ed Willoughby, radio host
• March 25: Jim Phillips, Auburn and NFL receiver
• March 30: Alberto Chiesa, architect
• March 30: Donald Comer III, former Avondale Mills CEO
• March 31: Bill Voigt, Air National Guard officer and president of National Veterans Day in Birmingham
• April 2: Evelyn Starks Hardy, founding member of the Gospel Harmonettes.
• April 7: Torrey Ward, UAB Blazers men's basketball team.
• Spring: Charles Ridley, peanut vendor
• April 20: Fred McCrory, businessman and Vestavia Hills City Council president.
• April 24: Lee Ousley, concert violinist, educator and piano technician
• May 9: McNeil Robinson, organist and composer
• May 11: John Duchock, Dora Police Chief
• May 11: J. B. Elliott, meteorologist
• May 19: Mary Bonner Wagnon, arts activist
• May 19: Henry Carter, Bessemer Police officer
• June 2: John Wright, communications director, actor and social activist
• July 8: Kenny Stabler, former NFL quarterback
• July 10: Ben Cook, sportswriter
• July 13: Francis Bryant, residential contractor
• July 15: Doug Layton, radio announcer and sportscaster
• July 15: Ed Levins, McDonald's franchisee and Clairmont Avenue "Santa Claus"
• July 17: Frank Wagner, former Birmingham Parks & Recreation Board director
• July 26: Wayne Teague, former Alabama Superintendent of Education
• July 29: Harry Brock Jr, founder of Central Bank.
• August 29: William Robertson Jr, founder of Monumental Contracting Services
• August 30: Max Cooper, ad executive, McDonald's franchisee and Broadway producer
• September 19: Frances Moore, longtime Bromberg's employee
• September 22: Richard Williamson, football player and coach
• October 10: Myrna Ria Ross, Ramsay High School choir director
• October 19: Glenn Feldman, historian
• November 23: Heron Johnson, pastor of Faith Apostolic Church
• November 27: Vance McBride, hardware dealer
• December 14: Glen Sonmor, former Birmingham Bulls coach

See also List of Birmingham homicides in 2015 and List of homicides in 2015

Works

• Nina Miglionico statue at Linn Park by Ronald McDowell

Books

• The Cy Young Catcher by Doug Wedge and Charlie O'Brien
• Angels at the Gate by T. K. Thorne
• Birmingham Beer by Carla Jean Whitley

Buildings

• 20 Midtown at 300-308 20th Street South
• Alagasco Metro Operations Center on 1st Avenue North
• Birmingham Police Department West Precinct at Five Points West.
• Birmingham Veterans Administration Primary Care Annex
• Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook at Lane Parke
• The Greenwave EcoScape at Leeds High School was completed.
• Greystone Golf & Country Club's Clubhouse renovations, Golf Operations Center, and Golf Performance Center
• Hill Student Center at UAB
• LIV Parkside
• The restored Lyric Theatre reopened.
• Negro Southern League Museum opened adjacent to Regions Field.
• The Rampage roller coaster at Splash Adventure was restored and reopened.
• The Plaza II (Gardendale)
• The Plaza III (Gardendale)
• Vestavia Hills City Hall
• October 4: The relocated Crestline Scout House was rededicated.

Demolitions

• Birmingham Central Station
• Jack Wood Stadium and John C. Yarbrough Community Center in Trussville
• Riverpoint building at Cahaba Center at Grandview

See Also

• 2015 Birmingham Barons
• 2015 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival

Context

In 2015, the Eurasian Economic Union came into effect. Islamist terrorists attacked the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. NASA's Dawn probe entered orbit around dwarf planet Ceres. A 7.8 earthquake originating in Nepal killed over 9,000. Ireland legalized same-sex marriage by popular vote. American Pharoah became the first American Triple Crown winner since 1978.

A Minnesota dentist and hunter killed Cecil, a lion in Zimbabwe. NASA's New Horizons probe visited Pluto. Cuba and the United States reestablished full diplomatic relations. Europe experienced a refugee crisis. Train passengers, including three Americans, foiled a terrorist attack on a train in France. A stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, kills at least 2,200 people. Volkswagen admitted rigging emissions software on some cars. Hurricane Patricia became the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere. American Pharoah became the first horse in history to complete the "Grand Slam" of American horse racing—the Triple Crown plus the Breeders' Cup Classic. At least 129 people were killed in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris.

Notable births in 2015 included Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Notable deaths included politician Mario Cuomo, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, physicist Charles H. Townes, singer Lesley Gore, actor Leonard Nimoy, writer Terry Prachett, singer Percy Sledge, singer-songwriter B. B. King, mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr, actor Christopher Lee, actor Dick Van Patten, professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, football player & commentator Frank Gifford, actor Dean Jones, romance novelist Jackie Collins, baseball player & manager Yogi Berra, actress Maureen O'Hara, and West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

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