1982
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1982 was the 111th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.
Events
- WTTO-21 went on the air as the city's first independent television channel.
- WBRC-6 began receiving network programming by satellite feed.
- The Church of the Advent was designated the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.
- George Wallace won the 1982 gubernatorial election to claim his fourth term as Governor of Alabama.
- The Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington was founded in Columbiana.
- Organist Tom Helms resumed annual Halloween performances of the Phantom of the Opera at the Alabama Theatre.
- A former alleyway near Five Points South was named Cobb Lane in honor of restauranteur Virginia Cobb.
- The Birmingham Festival of Arts organized a Salute to Japan.
- Rock group Hotel disbanded.
- Eddie Kendricks joined a reunion tour of The Temptations.
- The Friends of the Hoover Public Library was formed.
- Birmingham's "Batman", Willie Perry, appeared on That's Incredible!.
- The Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center opened at the Birmingham VA Medical Center.
- Members of the UAB Gospel Choir founded the More Than Conquerors Faith Church.
- The first Mulberry Fork Canoe and Kayak Festival was held.
Business
- Birmingham Trust National Bank became SouthTrust Bank.
- BE&K moved its corporate headquarters to Inverness.
- Bruno's Supermarkets spun off its Big B Drugs division into an independent company.
- Colonial Bank acquired the Exchange National Bank of Birmingham.
- Highlands Bar and Grill was opened by Frank Stitt.
- Snoozy's College Bookstore was founded.
- UAB began operating the former Guest House Motor Inn as the [[ University Inn.
- Larry Langford was hired as community relations director for Birmingham Budweiser.
- The Screening Room adult cinema opened.
- New York Pizza opened in the Edgewood Business District.
- City Hotels, Inc., operator of the Holiday Inn-Medical Center, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
- The Homewood Library purchased the former Homewood Chuch of Christ to serve as its new home.
- Joe Lee founded Lee's Buildings and Sheet Metal in Moody.
- WERC-AM switched to an all-news/talk format.
- Summerfest Musical Theatre presented ShowBoat, Lil’ Abner, and Guys and Dolls in the 1982 season.
- Cahaba Cycles first opened.
- The first Guthrie's opened in Auburn.
- T. Morris Hackneyn acquired Dixie Type and Supply and formed the Citation Corporation as a holding company.
Sports
- The Alabama Magic of the American Football Association went 6-4 in their only season.
- The Birmingham South Stars of the Canadian Hockey League played a sole season.
- The BJCC hosted the 1982 Mideast regional Semifinals and finals of the NCAA college basketball tournament. The 4th-seeded UAB Blazers upset top seed Virginia 68-66 in the round of sixteen, then lost to 3rd-seed Louisville in the regional final.
- The Alabama Crimson Tide also made it to the Sweet Sixteen, led by Ennis Whatley.
- Auburn won the 1982 Iron Bowl 23-22 on freshman Bo Jackson's last second touchdown.
- Marvin Warner founded the Birmingham Stallions for the new United States Football League.
- Bobby Allison won the Daytona 500.
- Benny Parsons turned in a qualifying lap for the Winston 500 at over 200 mph, setting a NASCAR record at the Talladega Superspeedway.
- Bear Bryant coached his final Alabama team, retiring with 323 wins after an 8-4 season which ended with a 21-15 victory over Illinois in the Liberty Bowl on December 29.
- Alabama's Jeremiah Castille, Mike Pitts and Tommy Wilcox were named College Football All-Americans.
- Sprinter Carl Lewis beat the 10-second 100-meter sprint at Modesto, California
- Pitcher Vida Blue was traded to the Kansas City Royals.
- Alabama State University joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
- Vince Gibson retired as head football coach at Tulane University.
- Lamar Johnson signed with the Texas Rangers.
- UAB Blazers star Oliver Robinson was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs.
- Alabama Crimson Tide star Eddie Phillips was drafted by the New Jersey Nets.
- Eli Gold began hosting NASCAR Live on the Motor Racing Network.
- David Cutcliffe was hired as an assistant at Tennessee.
- Jerry Pate won the PGA Tournament Player's Championship
- Jackie Sherrill became head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies.
Works
- Strange Celestial Road, album by Sun Ra
- Birmingham's Homage to Leonardo: Vitruvian Man, modeled by Enzo Plazotta, was cast.
- All About Birmingham board game.
Books
- Marylin Davis Hahn, Cemeteries of Jefferson County, Vol. I. Birmingham: Birmingham Public Library
- James Caldwell Fletcher, Coping With Genetic Disorders: a Guide for Clergy and Parent. San Francisco, California: Harper & Row ISBN 0060626658
Buildings
- Financial Center
- Southridge Office Building
- West Jefferson Correctional Facility
- Hewitt-Trussville High School
- Garywood Assembly of God
- Addition to the St Clair County Courthouse
- The Empire Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
People
- Astronaut Hank Hartsfield made his first space flight as pilot of the Columbia on mission STS-4, carrying a West End High School banner.
- Kenneth Daniel succeeded Robert E. Luckie, Jr as president of The Club.
- Birmingham News editorial cartoonist Charles Brooks was invited to the White House.
- Organist Cecil Whitmire returned to Birmingham from Knoxville and took a job at Long Lewis Hardware.
- Madelyn Poole retired from the Town and Gown Theatre.
- James Crutcher left the pulpit of 16th Street Baptist Church.
- Joseph Marino was assigned to the Catholic campus ministry at UAB.
- Paul Zahl began his ministerial career as Rector of St Mary's Church in Scarborough, New York.
- Jay Glass became Chief Deputy Coroner for Jefferson County.
- Sam Pointer, Jr became chief judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Births
- February 10: Soccer player Cat Whitehill (born Catherine Reddick)
- February 20: Baseball player Kerri Fair
- March 7: Baseball player Austin Tubb
- April 15: Baseball player Edwardo Sierra
- October 29: Football player and prison guard Kenny Hollis
- Artist Camille Boggs
- Boutique owner Crystal Stone
Awards
- Nell Carter won an Emmy for her starring role in NBC's televised version of Ain't Misbehavin'.
- Yolanda Fernandez was named Miss Alabama.
- Mike Anderson graduated from the University of Tulsa.
- Alan King and Greg Shaw earned degrees from the Cumberland School of Law.
- Susan Swider earned her bachelor of arts at Ohio State University.
- Eduardo Neiva earned his masters in communications studies at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, 15 inductees
- Dorothy Hoeschen's "Rock and Water Interaction" won the Bluff Park Art Association purchase award.
- Raymond Weeks was given the Presidential Citizens Medal for his efforts to establish Veterans Day as a national holiday.
- Andrew Toney was named to the NBA's All-Star Team.
Deaths
- March 1: Temple W. Tutwiler, II, civic booster
- May 17: Fred Walker, baseball player
- June 8: Satchel Paige, baseball player
- See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1982
Context
In 1982
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