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==Events==
==Events==
* The [[Birmingham Festival of Arts]] was held as a "[[Festival of the Seven Arts]]".
* [[January 6]]: The [[Red Gap Branch]] of the [[Birmingham Mineral Railroad]] between [[Hedona]] and [[Irondale]] was abandoned.
* [[Fountain Heights Methodist Church]] purchased the former [[Weather Forecast Office Birmingham]] on [[13th Street North]].
* [[March 4]]: "Confederate Flag Day" was recognized by the [[Alabama State Legislature]].
* [[March 4]]: "Confederate Flag Day" was recognized by the [[Alabama State Legislature]].
* [[April 18]]: The [[1953 Siluria tornado]] killed eight people and caused damage to the [[Buck Creek Mill]].
* [[April 18]]: The [[1953 Siluria tornado]] killed eight people and caused damage to the [[Buck Creek Mill]].
* [[April 19]]: The [[Birmingham Transit Company]]'s last streetcar trip was completed on the [[No. 27 Ensley No. 38 South East Lake streetcar line]].
* [[April 19]]: The [[Birmingham Transit Company]]'s last streetcar trip was completed on the [[No. 27 Ensley No. 38 South East Lake streetcar line]].
* [[Birmingham Transit Company]] sold its remaining fleet of nearly-new streetcars to the Toronto Transit Commission and replaced all lines with buses.
* [[September 17]]: Actress Gloria Swanson made special appearances at the downtown [[Loveman's]] store.
* [[September 17]]: Actress Gloria Swanson made special appearances at the downtown [[Loveman's]] store.
* September 17: The [[Crestwood Civic Club]] was organized.
* September 17: The [[Crestwood Civic Club]] was organized.
* [[October 5]]-[[October 10|10]]: The [[1953 Alabama State Fair]] was held.
* [[October 5]]-[[October 10|10]]: The [[1953 Alabama State Fair]] was held.
* The [[Red Gap Branch]] of the [[Birmingham Mineral Railroad]] between [[Hedona]] and [[Irondale]] was abandoned.
* The [[Birmingham Festival of Arts]] was held as a "[[Festival of the Seven Arts]]".
* The first of the [[Coleman Lakes]] opened to public use.
* The [[Crestwood Civic Club]] was founded.
* [[Fountain Heights Methodist Church]] purchased the former [[Weather Forecast Office Birmingham]] on [[13th Street North]].
* [[Richard Howard]] donated his collection of Japanese prints to the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]].
* "[[Birmingham Bop]]" swept across the city's dance floors.
* [[Mel Torme]] performed at the [[Lotus Supper Club]].


===Business===
==Business==
[[File:Woodward No 3 tipple postcard.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Woodward Mine No. 3 closed in 1953]]
* January: The Federal Communications Commission granted [[WAFM-TV]] a permit to increase its transmitter power for around-the-clock broadcasting.
* [[Alagasco|Alabama Gas Corporation]] was spun off from [[Southern Natural|Southern Natural Gas Company]].
* Storer Broadcasting of Toledo, Ohio purchased [[WBRC 6|WBRC-TV]] for $2.3 million and switched it from Channel 4 to Channel 6.
* The [[Birmingham News|Birmingham News Company]] purchased [[WVTM|WAFM-TV]], [[WAPI-AM]] and [[WAPI-FM]] and moved their studios to [[Red Mountain]].
* [[Wright Dairy|Riverbend Farm]] in [[Ragland]] ceased bottling and distribution of its dairy products.
* [[Marino's]] grocery moved to its present location on [[Avenue E Ensley]].
* Development of the [[Shoppes of Crestwood|Crestwood Shopping Center]] was first announced, but delayed due to opposition.
* [[Brown-Service Funeral Homes]] was merged into [[Ridout's Brown Service]].
* The [[Vulcan Motor Lodge]] was purchased by [[Mac McGrady]] and renamed the [[Vulcan Motor Lodge|St Francis Hotel Courts]].
* [[Woodward Iron Company]] closed its [[Woodward Mine No. 3|Mine No. 3]], the last iron ore mine on [[Red Mountain]].
* [[Woodward Iron Company]] closed its coal mine shafts at [[Muscoda]] (but continued to extract coal from the area accessed by the [[Pyne Mine]] hoist shaft.
* The [[Empire Mine]] in [[Walker County]] was converted into a surface mine.
* [[Mrs Todd's Cafeteria]] moved to the new [[Town House]] motor hotel.
* [[Roy Welch]] bought half of [[Joe Gunther]]'s wrestling promotion.
* The weekly 15-minute [[Mr. Twister Time]] debuted on [[WBRC 6]].
 
===Establishments===
* [[Bert Bank]] founded the [[Alabama Football Network]].
* The [[Dixie Cycle & Toy Co.]] opened in the [[W. S. Brown Mercantile Building]].
* [[Floyd & Beasley Transfer]] was incorporated.
* [[Robert Luckie Jr]] founded [[Luckie & Co.]]
* [[Robert Luckie Jr]] founded [[Luckie & Co.]]
* [[Mayfield Cleaners]], operating since [[1946]], was incorporated.
* [[Michael Matsos]] opened a second location of [[La Paree]] restaurant in the [[Holiday Inn]] on [[Bessemer Super Highway]].
* [[Michael Matsos]] opened a second location of [[La Paree]] restaurant in the [[Holiday Inn]] on [[Bessemer Super Highway]].
* [[Bert Bank]] founded the [[Alabama Football Network]].
* [[Jimmy Pappas|Jimmy]] and [[Inez Pappas]] founded [[Jimez's]] restaurant in [[Hueytown]].
* Storer Broadcasting of Toledo, Ohio purchased [[WBRC 6|WBRC-TV]] for $2.3 million and switched it from Channel 4 to Channel 6.
* [[Frank Lovoy]] founded [[Lovoy's Italian Restaurant]] in [[Homewood]].
* The [[Birmingham News|Birmingham News Company]] purchased [[WVTM|WAFM-TV]], [[WAPI-AM]] and [[WAPI-FM]] and moved their studios to [[Red Mountain]].
* Pasquale and Vincent Gramaglia founded [[Pasquale's Pizza & Pasta]] in Cincinnati, Ohio.
* Pasquale and Vincent Gramaglia founded [[Pasquale's Pizza & Pasta]] in Cincinnati, Ohio.
* [[Wright Dairy|Riverbend Farm]] in [[Ragland]] ceased bottling and distribution of its dairy products.
* [[William Veenschoten]] founded [[Veenschoten & Company]].
* [[WBCO-AM]] went on the air.
* December: [[Toney Carnaggio|Toney]] and [[Vince Carnaggio]] opened [[Carnaggio's]] restaurant in [[Midfield]]


===Government===
==Government==
* [[February 23]]: The city of [[Alabaster]] was incorporated.
* [[February 23]]: The city of [[Alabaster]] was incorporated.
* April: [[Cooper Green]] resigned from the [[Birmingham City Commission]] to become a vice president of the [[Alabama Power Company]].
* April: [[Cooper Green]] resigned from the [[Birmingham City Commission]] to become a vice president of the [[Alabama Power Company]].
* [[Jimmy Morgan]] succeeded [[Cooper Green]] as [[Mayor of Birmingham|President of the Birmingham City Commission]].
* The [[Birmingham Department of Parks and Recreation]] purchased the [[Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens|Arlington]] home in [[West End]] for $53,000, raised through private donations.
* The [[Birmingham Department of Parks and Recreation]] purchased the [[Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens|Arlington]] home in [[West End]] for $53,000, raised through private donations.
* [[May 5]]: [[1953 primary elections]] and [[1953 Birmingham municipal election]]
* [[May 5]]: [[1953 primary elections]] and [[1953 Birmingham municipal election]]
* [[Jimmy Morgan]] succeeded [[Cooper Green]] as [[Mayor of Birmingham|President of the Birmingham City Commission]].
* [[September 8]]: Alabama ratified the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
* [[October 6]]: The city of [[Midfield]] was incorporated.
* [[October 6]]: The city of [[Midfield]] was incorporated.
* [[October 13]]: The city of [[Adamsville]] was re-incorporated.
* [[October 13]]: The city of [[Adamsville]] was re-incorporated.
* [[Douglas Arant]] was appointed to the United States Department of Justice's National Committee To Study The Antitrust Laws.
* [[Hobart Grooms]] was appointed to the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama]] by President Dwight Eisenhower.
* [[Seybourn Lynne]] was made chief judge of the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama]].
* [[Hal McCall]] succeeded [[James Robertson]] as [[Mayor of Tuscaloosa]].
* [[Hal McCall]] succeeded [[James Robertson]] as [[Mayor of Tuscaloosa]].
* [[George Wallace]] was elected to the Third Judicial Circuit Court.
* [[George Wallace]] was elected to the Third Judicial Circuit Court.
* [[Robert Glasgow Jr]] began a two-year term as [[Mayor of Adamsville]].


===Education===
==Education==
* [[Jones Valley High School]], [[McElwain Elementary School]], and [[Powderly Elementary School]] were absorbed into [[Birmingham City Schools]].
* [[Birmingham City Schools|Birmingham]]'s [[P. D. Jackson-Olin High School|Western High School]] was renamed [[Western Olin High School]].
* [[Birmingham City Schools|Birmingham]]'s [[P. D. Jackson-Olin High School|Western High School]] was renamed [[Western Olin High School]].
* [[A. H. Parker High School]] was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges.
* [[A. H. Parker High School]] was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges.
* The [[Birmingham Conservatory of Music]] merged with [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* The [[Birmingham Conservatory of Music]] merged with [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Lawrence Reynolds]] donated his [[Reynolds Historical Library|collection of over 13,000 rare books, manuscripts and artifacts]] to the [[UAB|Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama]].
* [[Lawrence Reynolds]] donated his [[Reynolds Historical Library|collection of over 13,000 rare books, manuscripts and artifacts]] to the [[UAB|Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama]].
* [[Sister Mary Leo]] began teaching at [[John Carroll Catholic High School]].
* [[Stillman College]] was accredited.
* [[November 13]]: A fire seriously damaged [[Edgewood Elementary School]].
* [[November 13]]: A fire seriously damaged [[Edgewood Elementary School]].


===Religion===
==Religion==
[[File:Holy Trinity-Holy Cross.JPG|right|thumb|375px|Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral was created in 1953 by the merger of two older congregations.]]
* [[May 3]]: [[Concord Highland Baptist Church]] was dedicated.
* [[May 3]]: [[Concord Highland Baptist Church]] was dedicated.
* [[George Murray]] succeeded [[Charles Carpenter]] as [[Episcopal Bishop of Alabama]].
* [[John Claypool]] was ordained as a minister at Belmont Heights Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
* [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] succeeded [[Chester Laster]] as pastor of [[Bethel Baptist Church]].
* [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] succeeded [[Chester Laster]] as pastor of [[Bethel Baptist Church]].
* [[Nelson Smith Jr]] took over the pulpit at [[New Pilgrim Baptist Church]].
* [[WaterStone Church|Warrior Missionary Baptist Church]] changed its name to [[WaterStone Church|Warrior First Baptist Church]].
* [[W. Glenn Bartee]] succeeded [[Otis Kirby]] as pastor of [[Avondale United Methodist Church]].
* [[Sister Mary Joseph]] made her first profession at the Sancta Clara Monastery in Canton, Ohio.
* [[Joseph Volker]] founded the [[Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham]], with [[Alfred Hobart]] as its first minister.
* [[Concord Highland Baptist Church]] was founded with [[W. C. Stone]] as its first pastor.
* [[Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church]] merged with [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church]] to form the [[Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral]].
* [[W. M. Norwood]] began his long tenure as pastor of [[Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church]] in [[Ensley]].


===Sports===
==Sports==
[[File:1953 Dental Clinic Game ticket.jpg|right|thumb|375px|1953 Dental Clinic Game ticket]]
* The [[1953 Birmingham Barons]] began a three-season association with the New York Yankees.
* The [[1953 Birmingham Barons]] began a three-season association with the New York Yankees.
* [[Joe Drake]] joined the Barons' office staff.
* [[May 18]]: [[Harold Grote]] tied a [[Birmingham Barons records|Birmingham Barons record]] with two home runs in one inning.
* [[May 18]]: [[Harold Grote]] tied a [[Birmingham Barons records|Birmingham Barons record]] with two home runs in one inning.
* [[August 28]]: The [[Southside Ball Association]] Little League team from [[Avondale Park]] defeated New York 1-0 to claim the 1953 Little League World Series.
* [[August 28]]: The [[Southside Ball Association]] Little League team from [[Avondale Park]] defeated New York 1-0 to claim the 1953 Little League World Series.
* [[November 12]]: The [[1953 Dental Clinic Game]] was played at [[Legion Field]].
* [[November 28]]: [[1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] won the [[1953 Iron Bowl]] 10-7.
* [[Sam Hairston]] was named Most Valuable Player of the Western League.
* [[Sam Hairston]] was named Most Valuable Player of the Western League.
* [[Shug Jordan]]'s [[1953 Auburn Tigers football team]] went 7-3-1 and lost the Gator Bowl to Texas Tech.
* [[John Baumgartner]] played in seven games for the Detroit Tigers.
* [[Paul Lehner]] played his final season with the Memphis Chickasaws.
* [[Bubba Church]] was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
* Pitcher [[Virgil Trucks]] was traded to the St Louis Cardinals.
* Pitcher [[Virgil Trucks]] was traded to the St Louis Cardinals.
* [[November 28]]: [[1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] won the [[1953 Iron Bowl]] 10-7.
* [[Red Drew]]'s [[1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] went 6-2-3 and lost the Cotton Bowl to Rice.
* [[Shug Jordan]]'s [[1953 Auburn Tigers football team|1953 API Tigers football team]] went 7-2-1 and lost the Gator Bowl to Texas Tech.


==Individuals==
==Individuals==
* [[Fant Thornley]] succeeded [[Emily Danton]] as director of the [[Birmingham Public Library]].
* [[R. G. Armstrong]] made his Broadway debut in "End as a Man."
* [[Eloise Hanna]] retired from [[WBRC 6|WBRC-TV]].
* [[Marvin Bass]] was hired as an assistant coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.
* [[Jack Bingham]] was made a partner in the firm of [[Balch & Bingham|Martin & Blakey]].
* [[Oliver Carmichael]] succeeded [[John Gallalee]] as [[List of University of Alabama presidents|president]] of the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Asa Carter|Asa "Ace" Carter]] landed a show of his own on [[WILD-AM ]].
* [[Frank Moore Cross]] was invited to join the international committee responsible for conserving, translating and editing the Dead Sea Scrolls.
* [[Joseph Cunningham]] became a professor of pathology at the [[University of Alabama School of Medicine]].
* [[Hardrock Gunter]] took a job in Wheeling, West Virginia producing "The World's Original Jamboree" radio show.
* [[A. C. Keily]] served as president of the Professional Photographers of Mississippi-Alabama.
* [[A. C. Keily]] served as president of the Professional Photographers of Mississippi-Alabama.
* [[W. A. Parker]] retired as Superintendent of [[Tarrant City Schools]].
* U.S. Attorney [[Tom King]] was made Chief Administrative Assistant to U. S. Representative [[George Huddleston Jr]].
* [[Henry Stanford]] became president of the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville.
* [[Geraldine Moore]] took over the ''[[Birmingham News]]{{'}}'' "[[What Negroes Are Doing]]" column from [[Oscar Adams Sr]].
* [[John Newsome]] was elected president of the [[Associated Industries of Alabama]].
* [[James Permutt]] succeeded [[Fred Nichols]] as president of [[Temple Beth-El]].
* [[James Permutt]] succeeded [[Fred Nichols]] as president of [[Temple Beth-El]].
* U.S. Attorney [[Tom King]] was made Chief Administrative Assistant to U. S. Representative [[George Huddleston Jr]].
* [[R. G. Armstrong]] made his Broadway debut in "End as a Man."
* [[Cliff Holman]] was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.
* [[Hardrock Gunter]] took a job in Wheeling, West Virginia producing "The World's Original Jamboree" radio show.
* [[Sol Rittenbaum]] succeeded [[James Permutt]] as president of the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center]].
* [[Sol Rittenbaum]] succeeded [[James Permutt]] as president of the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center]].
* [[Henry Stanford]] became president of the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville.
* [[Evelyn Hardy|Evelyn Starks]] left the [[Gospel Harmonettes]] to pursue a teaching career.
* [[Fant Thornley]] succeeded [[Emily Danton]] as director of the [[Birmingham Public Library]].
* [[Lawrence Whitten]] served a term as president of the [[Alabama Society of Architects]].


===Births===
===Births===
[[File:Coyote J Calhoun.jpg|right|thumb|Coyote J. Calhoun]]
* [[January 5]]: [[Mike DuBose]], football coach
* [[January 5]]: [[Mike DuBose]], football coach
* [[January 20]]: [[Gary Sheffield]], basketball coach
* [[January 23]]: [[Joseph Marino]], Archbishop
* [[January 23]]: [[Joseph Marino]], Archbishop
* [[March 1]]: [[Luther Strange]], [[Attorney General of Alabama]] and U.S. Senator
* [[March 1]]: [[Luther Strange]], [[Attorney General of Alabama]] and U.S. Senator
* [[March 2]]: [[Rodger Smitherman]], state senator  
* [[March 2]]: [[Rodger Smitherman]], state senator  
* [[April 3]]: [[Fred Hunter]], meteorologist and "[[Absolutely Alabama]]" producer
* [[April 17]]: [[Pam Huff]], television news anchor
* [[April 24]]: [[Bill Lawson|"Dollar Bill" Lawson]], radio host
* [[May 9]]: [[Ron Jackson|Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson]], professional baseball player
* [[May 9]]: [[Ron Jackson|Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson]], professional baseball player
* [[May 22]]: Radio disc jockey [[Coyote J. Calhoun]] ([[Jim Battan]])
* [[May 22]]: Radio disc jockey [[Coyote J. Calhoun]] ([[Jim Battan]])
* [[June 12]]: [[Charlie Moore]], professional baseball player
* [[June 21]]: [[Charlie Moore]], professional baseball player
* [[July 15]]: [[Hugo Black III]], attorney
* [[July 15]]: [[Hugo Black III]], attorney
* [[July 22]]: [[Tony Petelos]], [[Jefferson County Manager]]
* [[July 22]]: [[Tony Petelos]], [[Jefferson County Manager]]
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* [[August 14]]: [[Harold Jackson]], newspaper columnist
* [[August 14]]: [[Harold Jackson]], newspaper columnist
* [[August 23]]: [[Billy Shields]], professional football player
* [[August 23]]: [[Billy Shields]], professional football player
* [[August 25]]: [[David Ullrich]], [[Birmingham-Southern College]] English professor
* [[September 16]]: [[Jerry Pate]], professional golfer
* [[September 16]]: [[Jerry Pate]], professional golfer
* [[September 19]]: [[Ann Florie]], [[Leadership Birmingham]] director
* [[September 19]]: [[Ann Florie]], [[Leadership Birmingham]] director
* [[October 14]]: [[Willie Florence]], furniture dealer and attorney
* [[October 23]]: [[Angelo Sarris]], restaurateur
* [[October 23]]: [[Angelo Sarris]], restaurateur
* [[November 27]]: [[Charlie Brown III]], industrialist and civic booster
* December: [[Eli Gold]], sports announcer
* December: [[Eli Gold]], sports announcer
* [[December 13]]: [[Charles Salvagio]], attorney
* [[December 20]]: [[Steve Orel]], founder of [[World of Opportunity]]
* [[December 20]]: [[Steve Orel]], founder of [[World of Opportunity]]
* [[December 27]]: [[Marillyn Hewson]], CEO of Lockheed Martin
* [[Gail Andrews]], director of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]
* [[Emory Anthony]], attorney
* [[Emory Anthony]], attorney
* [[Rick Batson]], architect
* [[Bill Bryant]], orthopedist
* [[Bill Bryant]], orthopedist
* [[Robert W. Carter]], Chief of the [[Adamsville Police Department]]
* [[Robert W. Carter]], Chief of the [[Adamsville Police Department]]
* [[Shirley Gavin Floyd]], [[Smithfield]] neighborhood president
* [[Anthony Greene]], superintendent of [[Fairfield City Schools]]
* [[Charles Hollis]], sports writer
* [[Roger James]], symphonic violinist
* [[Cathy Sloss Jones]], real estate developer
* [[Cathy Sloss Jones]], real estate developer
* [[Myron Massey]], [[Fairfield Police Department]]
* [[Myron Massey]], [[Fairfield Police Department]]
* [[Ronald McDowell]], artist
* [[Michael Melvin]], Chief of the [[Kimberly Police Department]]
* [[Michael Melvin]], Chief of the [[Kimberly Police Department]]
* [[Mike Naylor]], guitarist and knife maker
* [[Dudley Reynolds]], president of [[Alagasco]]
* [[Stanley Shafferman]], entrepreneur
* [[Bob Tedrow]], owner of the [[Homewood Musical Instrument Co.]]
* [[Ernestine Williams]], independent distributor


===Marriages===
===Marriages===
Line 95: Line 179:
* [[Freddie Rogers]] married [[Pearlie Rogers|Pearlie McCarthy]].
* [[Freddie Rogers]] married [[Pearlie Rogers|Pearlie McCarthy]].
* [[Hank Penny]] married Sue Martin.
* [[Hank Penny]] married Sue Martin.
* [[June 18]]: [[Martin Luther King Jr]] married [[Coretta Scott King|Coretta Scott]] in [[Marion]].
* [[August 22]]: [[Bill Steltemeier]] married [[Ramona Steltemeier|Ramona Schnupp]].
* [[August 22]]: [[Bill Steltemeier]] married [[Ramona Steltemeier|Ramona Schnupp]].


===Awards===
===Awards===
* [[Alabama Hall of Fame]]: [[John Tyler Morgan]]
* [[Birmingham Woman of the Year]]: [[Eleanor Bridges]]
* [[Birmingham Woman of the Year]]: [[Eleanor Bridges]]
* [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Virginia McDavid]]
* [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Virginia McDavid]]
* [[Miss Samford|Miss Howard College]]: [[Marguerite Rutledge Blackwell]]
* [[Mr Crestwood]]: [[Carl Johnsey]]
* [[Mr Crestwood]]: [[Carl Johnsey]]
* [[University of Alabama]] [[Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award]]: [[George Murray]]
* [[University of Alabama]] [[Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award]]: [[George Murray]]
Line 108: Line 195:
* Pastor [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] completed a bachelor's degree in English from the [[Alabama State University|Alabama State Teachers College]] in Montgomery.
* Pastor [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] completed a bachelor's degree in English from the [[Alabama State University|Alabama State Teachers College]] in Montgomery.
* [[Gene Bartow]] earned a degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
* [[Gene Bartow]] earned a degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
* [[Ira De Ment]] graduated from the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Ward McIntyre]] graduated from [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Ward McIntyre]] graduated from [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Miller Gorrie]] graduated from [[Shades Valley High School]].
* [[John Grenier]] completed his law degree at Tulane University.
* [[John Grenier]] completed his law degree at Tulane University.
* [[Basil Hirschowitz]] completed a surgical fellowship at the University of Michigan.
* [[Bill Holdefer]] graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland.
* [[Bob Moody]] completed his bachelor's in architecture at the [[Auburn University|Alabama Polytechnical Institute]].
* [[Elmer Moree]] completed his master's in education at the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Richard Pizitz]] graduated from Harvard Business School.
* [[William Poole]] earned his bachelor of architecture at the [[Auburn University|Alabama Polytechnical Institute]].
* [[William Powell]] earned his bachelor's degree at the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Thompson Reynolds]] graduated from [[Howard College]].
* [[Richard Shelby]] graduated from [[Hueytown High School]].
* [[Homer Smith]] graduated from Princeton University.
* [[Joel P. Smith]] graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
* [[Sandra Sokol]] graduated from [[Ramsay High School]].
* Author [[Gay Talese]] graduated from the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[David Vann]] completed his master of laws at George Washington University in St Louis, Missouri.
===Retirements===
* [[Eloise Hanna]] retired from [[WBRC 6|WBRC-TV]].
* [[Cliff Holman]] was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.
* [[O. V. Hunt]] retired from professional photography.
* [[Raymond Jones]] retired from selling insurance.
* [[Dana Ousler]] retired from [[Ousler Sandwiches]].
* [[W. A. Parker]] retired as Superintendent of [[Tarrant City Schools]].
* [[Asa Rountree Jr]] retired from the command of the [[Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol]].


===Deaths===
===Deaths===
* [[January 7]]: [[Joe Kelley]] died with 40 other servicemen returning from Korea in a plane crash near Bear Lake, Idaho.
* [[January 7]]: [[Joe Kelley]] died with 40 other servicemen returning from Korea in a plane crash near Bear Lake, Idaho.
* [[January 18]]: [[Newt Joseph]], baseball player
* [[January 18]]: [[Newt Joseph]], Negro Leagues baseball player
* [[May 30]]: [[Oscar Wells]], banker
* [[May 30]]: [[Oscar Wells]], banker
* [[June 27]]: [[Mary Anderson (inventor)|Mary Anderson]], real-estate developer, rancher, viticulturist and inventor
* [[June 27]]: [[Mary Anderson (inventor)|Mary Anderson]], real-estate developer, rancher, viticulturist and inventor
* July: [[Vernon Reaver]], theater manager
* [[August 15]]: [[Erskine Ramsay]], mining engineer, inventor and philanthropist
* [[August 15]]: [[Erskine Ramsay]], mining engineer, inventor and philanthropist
* [[Ned McCormack]], [[Homewood Police Department]]
* [[November 3]]: [[Fred Brockman]], [[Birmingham Police Department]] officer killed on duty.
* [[Inez Lopez]], writer
* [[Shiney Moon]], artist
* [[Ned McCormack]], [[Homewood Police Department]] officer killed on duty.


:''See also: [[List of homicides in 1953]]''
:''See also: [[List of homicides in 1953]]''
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==Works==
==Works==
* "Get It", single by The Royals with [[Hank Ballard]]
* "Get It", single by The Royals with [[Hank Ballard]]
* "Jan", single by [[Paul Bascomb]]


===Books===
===Books===
 
* The ''[[Alabama Review]]'' began publishing edited installments from [[Mary Gordon Duffee]]'s "[[Sketches of Alabama]]".


===Buildings===
===Buildings===
[[File:Town House postcard.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Town House Motor Hotel]]
* [[March 22]]: The [[Birmingham VA Medical Center]] was dedicated.
* [[March 22]]: The [[Birmingham VA Medical Center]] was dedicated.
* [[June 11]]: [[Howard College]] broke ground for its new [[Shades Valley]] campus.
* [[June 11]]: [[Howard College]] broke ground for its new [[Shades Valley]] campus.
* The [[Alabama Theatre]]'s projection system and screen were upgraded for CinemaScope.
* The [[Alabama Theatre]]'s projection system and screen were upgraded for CinemaScope.
* [[Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery (Pratt City)]]
* The connector between [[U.S. Highway 31]] and the "[[Florida Short Route]]" in [[Rosedale]] was begun.
* The connector between [[U.S. Highway 31]] and the "[[Florida Short Route]]" in [[Rosedale]] was begun.
* Widening of [[U.S. Highway 31]] between [[Shades Mountain]] and the [[Cahaba River]] was begun.
* Widening of [[U.S. Highway 31]] between [[Shades Mountain]] and the [[Cahaba River]] was begun.
* [[Bush Hills Academy|Charles B. Glenn Vocational High School]]
* [[Concord Highland Baptist Church]] in [[Concord]]
* [[Davis Middle School|Bessemer Junior High School]] opened.
* [[Leeds National Guard Armory]]
* A new building for [[Bluff Park United Methodist Church]] was completed.
* An expansion of [[Holy Family Community Hospital]] was built.
* A playing field was constructed on the east side of [[Phillips High School]].
* A playing field was constructed on the east side of [[Phillips High School]].
* A parsonage for [[ChristWay Church|North Birmingham Church of God]] on [[32nd Street North]].
* A parsonage for [[ChristWay Church|North Birmingham Church of God]] on [[32nd Street North]].

Revision as of 14:21, 3 April 2024

1953 was the 82nd year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

Business

Woodward Mine No. 3 closed in 1953

Establishments

Government

Education

Religion

Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral was created in 1953 by the merger of two older congregations.

Sports

1953 Dental Clinic Game ticket

Individuals

Births

Coyote J. Calhoun

Marriages

Awards

Graduations

Retirements

Deaths

See also: List of homicides in 1953

Works

Books

Buildings

The Town House Motor Hotel

Context

1950s
<< 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 >>
Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works