1978

1978 was the 107th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

Business

• February: Red Mountain Museum opened.
• September: K. L. Jones purchased the Parliament House hotel out of bankruptcy.
• The first gifts from the Dwight and Lucille Beeson Collection were received by the Birmingham Museum of Art.
• WBRC was the first station to use a microwave-transmitting live news truck for newsgathering.
• BE&K's Redrock Construction Company was shut down.

Media

• May 20: Sun Ra and his Arkestra were the musical guests on Saturday Night Live.

Sports

• Mel Allen was awarded the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award.

Works

• Lanquidity by Sun Ra

Books

• On Human Nature, by E. O. Wilson
• Baal, by Robert McCammon

Buildings

• Barrett Elementary School was rennovated.
• Rennovations to the Birmingham Zoo included remodelling the reptile house, construction of a new big cat area, and completion of the children's zoo.

Music

• Birmingham Sunlights were formed.

Individuals

• November: Pete Clifford was elected to fill Don Hawkins' unexpired seat on the Birmingham City Council. Nina Miglionico assumed Hawkins' role as president.
• Michael Gross became superintendent of Homewood City Schools. Jack Farr replaced Gross as principal at Homewood High School.
• John Harbert III was appointed to the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
• John Amari was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives to represent Alabama House District 34.

Births

• April 11: Josh Hancock, baseball player
• September 12: Reuben Studdard, singer
• November 9: Jason Standridge, baseball player

Awards

• Pulizter Prize was awarded to E. O. Wilson for On Human Nature.
• The first class of Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was inducted. Inductees were Frank Adams, Amos Gordon, Erskine Hawkins, Haywood Henry, Sammy Lowe, Fess Whatley.
• Nell Carter won the Tony Award for her perfomance in Ain't Misbehavin'

Deaths

• Don Hawkins, president Birmingham City Council

See also List of Birmingham homicides in 1978

See also

• 1978 UAB Blazers
• 1978 Iron Bowl

Context

1970s

<< 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 >>

Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works