1981: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:95rock.jpg|right|thumb|95-Rock]]
[[Image:95rock.jpg|right|thumb|95-Rock]]
* February: [[Scott Richards]] debuted on [[WBRC 6]].
* February: [[Scott Richards]] debuted on [[WBRC 6]].
* February: The [[BJCTA]] voted 5-3 to shut down for lack of operating revenue.
* April: The [[Birmingham Police Department]] [[Loveable Skates|cracked down]] on roller-skaters on [[Highland Avenue]].
* April: The [[Birmingham Police Department]] [[Loveable Skates|cracked down]] on roller-skaters on [[Highland Avenue]].
* April: [[Faith Chapel Christian Center]] was founded in [[Wylam]] by [[Michael Moore]].
* April: [[Faith Chapel Christian Center]] was founded in [[Wylam]] by [[Michael D. Moore]].
* April: [[Partners in Neighborhood Growth]] was founded.
* April: [[Partners in Neighborhood Growth]] was founded.
* May: The [[BJCTA]] resumed service.
* [[May 31]]: "Don't Look Back" told the story of [[Satchel Paige]] on ABC.
* [[May 31]]: "Don't Look Back" told the story of [[Satchel Paige]] on ABC.
* [[August 1]]: [[Alan Hunter]] debuted as one of MTV's five original VJs.
* [[August 1]]: [[Alan Hunter]] debuted as one of MTV's five original VJs.
* [[August 15]]: [[Mother Angelica]] launched the [[Eternal Word Television Network]].
* [[August 15]]: [[Mother Angelica]] launched the [[Eternal Word Television Network]].
* August: [[Brownville]] voted to be annexed into [[Birmingham]].
* [[October 31]]: [[Willie Mays Day]] was celebrated with a parade and a presentation of the key to the city at halftime of the [[Magic City Classic]].
* [[December 30]]: The [[Burger-Phillips building|Crittenden Building]] was added to the [[List of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places|National Register of Historic Places]].
* [[December 30]]: The [[Burger-Phillips building|Crittenden Building]] was added to the [[List of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places|National Register of Historic Places]].
* A new [[Birmingham City Council]] was seated.
* A new [[Birmingham City Council]] was seated.
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* The [[Personnel Board of Jefferson County]] began operating under consent decree.
* The [[Personnel Board of Jefferson County]] began operating under consent decree.
* [[William Wilson]] founded the [[Amistad Mission]].
* [[William Wilson]] founded the [[Amistad Mission]].
* [[Brownville]] voted to be annexed into [[Birmingham]].
* [[Smith Middle School]] changed from a K-8 school to grades 6-8.
* [[Smith Middle School]] changed from a K-8 school to grades 6-8.
* A fire damaged [[Jess Lanier High School]], destroying the library.
* A fire damaged [[Jess Lanier High School]], destroying the library.
* The [[Homewood High School]] Marching Band made their second appearance in [[List of nationally televised school marching band appearances|Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]].
* The [[Homewood High School]] Marching Band made their second appearance in [[List of nationally televised school marching band appearances|Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]].
* [[Pizitz]] constructed its final Enchanted Forest for Christmas.
* [[Pizitz]] constructed its final Enchanted Forest for Christmas.
* The [[6th Avenue Deck|6th Avenue Parking Deck]] at [[UAB]] was constructed.


===Business===
===Business===
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* [[Harbert Construction]] sold its coal operations to Standard Oil for $400 million.
* [[Harbert Construction]] sold its coal operations to Standard Oil for $400 million.
* [[Southern Life & Health Insurance]] was sold to Standard Security Holding Company of New York.
* [[Southern Life & Health Insurance]] was sold to Standard Security Holding Company of New York.
* [[Jimmy Cho]] opened the [[Great Wall Chinese Restaurant]] on [[Valley Avenue]].
* [[WQMS-AM]], "The Source", went on the air in [[Alabaster]].
* [[WQMS-AM]], "The Source", went on the air in [[Alabaster]].
* [[Don Murdoch]] founded [[Highland Music]].
* [[Don Murdoch]] founded [[Highland Music]].
* [[Camp Fire USA]] began leasing [[Camp Fletcher]] near [[Bessemer]].
* [[Camp Fire USA]] began leasing [[Camp Fletcher]] near [[Bessemer]].
* [[Air New Orleans]] was founded in Florida.
* [[Air New Orleans]] was founded in Florida.
* The accounting firm [[Pearce Bevill Leesburg Moore]] was founded.
* The [[Robins & Morton|Robins Corporation]] opened a second office in Nashville, Tennessee.
===Education===
* [[William Bridgers]] became dean of the [[UAB School of Public Health]].
* [[Martha Gaskins]] was appointed to the [[Birmingham Board of Education]].
* [[James Kallam]] became president of [[Southeastern Bible College]].
* [[James Kirklin]] joined the [[UAB]] faculty.
* [[Louis LeVaughn]] retired as principal of [[Shades Cahaba Elementary School]].
===Government===
* [[Willie Arrington]] was elected to his first term on the [[Alabaster City Council]].
* [[Ralph Cook]] was appointed to the [[Jefferson County Circuit Court]].
* [[Jay Glass]] became deputy coroner of [[Jefferson County]].
* [[John Godbold]] became chief judge of the [[Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals]].
* [[Earl Hilliard]] took office in the Alabama Senate.
* Judge [[Robert Vance]] was assigned to the newly created [[11th Circuit United States Court of Appeals]].
===Religion===
* [[David Craig]] became pastor of [[Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church]].
* [[Paul Donnelly]] and then [[Patrick Murphy]] became pastor of [[Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church]].
* [[Marija Lunetti]] experienced her first vision of Mary.
* [[Bernard Williams (choir director)|Bernard Williams]] became pastor of [[Mount Moriah Baptist Church]].
* [[Briarwood Presbyterian Church]] founded [[Lifeline Children’s Services]].
* [[Metropolitan Church of God]] was formed by the merger of the former [[Vestavia Church of God]] and [[Riverchase Church of God]].


===Sports===
===Sports===
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* [[Pat Dye]] became head football coach of [[Auburn University]].
* [[Pat Dye]] became head football coach of [[Auburn University]].
:''See also: [[1981 Birmingham Barons]]
:''See also: [[1981 Birmingham Barons]]
==Works==
* [[Southtown Court murals]] by [[Vance Wesson]]
* [[Wendy Holcombe]] starred in the television movie "Wendy Hooper, U. S. Army"
===Books===
* ''[[The Narrative of Hosea Hudson: The Life and Times of a Black Radical]]'' by [[Hosea Hudson]] and Nell Irvin Painter
* ''Styling Your Face'' by [[Way Bandy]]
===Buildings===
* September: [[Springville Road Library]]
* [[Arlington Business Center]]
* [[Bill Battle Coliseum]]
* [[Covenant Presbyterian Church]]
* [[Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama]]
* [[South Central Bell Alabama Operations Center]]
* [[Striplin Field]]
* [[Wenonah High School]] gym
=== Music ===
* "[[Moon Over Homewood]]"
* "Panama City Bleach"/"This World is Killing Me" single by [[Jim Bob & the Leisure Suits]]
* Punk band [[Ether Dogs|the Ether Dogs]] was formed.


==Individuals==
==Individuals==
* [[Willie Arrington]] was elected to his first term on the [[Alabaster City Council]].
* [[William Bridgers]] became dean of the [[UAB School of Public Health]].
* [[Ralph Cook]] was appointed to the [[Jefferson County Circuit Court]].
* [[David Craig]] became pastor of [[Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church]].
* [[Paul Donnelly]] and then [[Patrick Murphy]] became pastor of [[Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church]].
* [[Bill Elder]] became pastor of the St Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.
* [[Bill Elder]] became pastor of the St Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.
* [[Fannie Flagg]] published her first novel.
* [[Fannie Flagg]] published her first novel.
* [[Martha Gaskins]] was appointed to the [[Birmingham Board of Education]].
* [[Joey Kennedy]] began working at ''[[The Birmingham News]]'' as a sports copy editor.
* [[Jay Glass]] became deputy coroner of [[Jefferson County]].
* [[John Godbold]] became chief judge of the [[Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals]].
* [[Earl Hilliard]] took office in the Alabama Senate.
* [[James Kallam]] became president of [[Southeastern Bible College]].
* [[James Kirklin]] joined the [[UAB]] faculty.
* [[Louis LeVaughn]] retired as principal of [[Shades Cahaba Elementary School]].
* [[Marija Lunetti]] experienced her first vision of Mary.
* [[Frank Makosky]] became the new head of the [[Weather Forecast Office Birmingham]].
* [[Frank Makosky]] became the new head of the [[Weather Forecast Office Birmingham]].
* [[David Nathan]] joined the [[Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service]].
* [[David Nathan]] joined the [[Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service]].
* [[Ted Tibbs]] took charge of the [[Birmingham Music Club]].
* [[Ted Tibbs]] took charge of the [[Birmingham Music Club]].
* Judge [[Robert Vance]] was assigned to the newly created [[11th Circuit United States Court of Appeals]].
* [[Mike Walker]] joined the [[Birmingham Police Department]].
* [[Mike Walker]] joined the [[Birmingham Police Department]].
* [[Fouad Fouad]] joined the faculty of the [[UAB Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering]].


===Births===
===Births===
* [[February 9]]: [[Javacia Harris Bowser]], writer and entrepreneur
* [[February 15]]: [[Richard Franklin]], president of [[Birmingham Federation of Teachers]].
* [[February 18]]: [[Matthew Maniscalco]], baseball player
* [[February 18]]: [[Matthew Maniscalco]], baseball player
* [[March 3]]: [[Bulwagi]], [[Birmingham Zoo]] elephant
* [[March 3]]: [[Bulwagi]], [[Birmingham Zoo]] elephant
* [[March 11]]: [[Adam Bonner]], baseball player
* [[March 11]]: [[Adam Bonner]], baseball player
* [[April 19]]: [[Earl Cochran, Jr]], football player
* [[March 19]]: [[Joseph Baker]], community activist
* [[March 22]]: [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Will Ainsworth]]
* [[April 19]]: [[Earl Cochran Jr]], football player
* [[April 22]]: [[Travis Beech]], baseball player
* [[April 22]]: [[Travis Beech]], baseball player
* [[May 29]]: [[Randall Woodfin]], [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
* [[June 8]]: [[Rachel Held Evans]], author
* [[June 15]]: [[Saleem Rasheed]], football player
* [[June 15]]: [[Saleem Rasheed]], football player
* [[July 27]]: [[Brandon Davis]], community activist
* [[July 27]]: [[Brandon Davis]], community activist
* [[August 13]]: [[Dan Sartain]], rock musician and barber
* [[August 28]]: [[Brett Talley]], U.S. Assistant Attorney General
* [[September 10]]: [[Connor Robertson]], baseball player
* [[September 10]]: [[Connor Robertson]], baseball player
* [[October 21]]: [[Michael Hansen]], executive director of [[GASP]].
* [[October 28]]: [[Noah Galloway]], soldier, athlete, and motivational speaker
* [[November 1]]: [[Evan Mathis]], football player
* [[November 1]]: [[Evan Mathis]], football player
* [[November 2]]: [[Roddy White]], football player
* [[November 2]]: [[Roddy White]], football player
* [[November 3]]: [[Karlos Dansby]], football player
* [[November 3]]: [[Karlos Dansby]], football player
* [[December 9]]: [[Erica Robbins]], homeless advocate
* [[December 12]]: [[Ronnie Brown]], football player
* [[December 12]]: [[Ronnie Brown]], football player
* [[December 31]]: [[Jason Campbell]], football player
* [[December 31]]: [[Jason Campbell]], football player
* [[Acton Bowen]], minister and child molester
* [[Hadiyah-Nicole Green]], medical physicist
* [[Jeremiah Haswell]], engineer
* [[Jeremiah Haswell]], engineer
* [[Rachel Higgins]], artist
* [[Rachel Higgins]], artist
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* [[Nancy Stricklin]], author and filmmaker
* [[Nancy Stricklin]], author and filmmaker
* [[Carla Jean Whitley]], editor of ''[[Birmingham magazine|Birmingham]]'' magazine
* [[Carla Jean Whitley]], editor of ''[[Birmingham magazine|Birmingham]]'' magazine
* [[Anthony Williams, Jr]], reality show contestant
* [[Anthony Williams Jr]], reality show contestant
* [[Randall Woodfin]], attorney
* [[Eytan Yammer]], rabbi
* [[Eytan Yammer]], rabbi


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===Awards===
===Awards===
* [[Alabama Academy of Honor]]: [[Houston Blount]]
* [[Alabama Academy of Honor]]: [[Houston Blount]]
* [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]]: [[James Comer]], [[A. G. Gaston]], [[Robert Jemison, Jr]], and Isadore Weil
* [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]]: [[James Comer]], [[A. G. Gaston]], [[Robert Jemison Jr]], and Isadore Weil
* [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]] (15 inductees)
* [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]] (15 inductees)
* [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]: [[Bill Battle III]], [[Frederick Davis]], [[Monte Irvin]], [[Fob James]], [[Joe Namath]], [[Pat Sullivan]], and [[Arthur White]]
* [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]: [[Bill Battle III]], [[Frederick Davis]], [[Monte Irvin]], [[Fob James]], [[Joe Namath]], [[Pat Sullivan]], and [[Arthur White]]
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===Deaths===
===Deaths===
* [[March 26]]: [[Carl Bottenfield]], retired [[U.S. Steel]] executive and former [[Jefferson County Board of Education]] member
* [[May 15]]: [[Walter Gewin]], federal circuit court judge
* [[May 30]]: [[Howell Vines]], author
* [[May 30]]: [[Howell Vines]], author
* [[June 1]]: [[Jimmy Murphy]], singer-songwriter
* [[June 1]]: [[Jimmy Murphy]], singer-songwriter
* [[June 7]]: [[Clarence Baldwin]], pastor
* [[June 7]]: [[Clarence Baldwin]], pastor
* August: [[M. E. Wiggins]], former president of the [[Birmingham City Council]]
* [[September 27]]: [[John Bryan]], educator and former [[Birmingham City Council]] member
* December: [[Ed Ramage]], Presbyterian minister
:''See also: [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1981]]''
:''See also: [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1981]]''
==Works==
* [[Southtown Court murals]] by [[Vance Wesson]]
* [[Wendy Holcombe]] starred in the television movie "Wendy Hooper, U. S. Army"
===Books===
* ''[[The Narrative of Hosea Hudson: The Life and Times of a Black Radical]]'' by [[Hosea Hudson]] and Nell Irvin Painter
* ''Styling Your Face'' by [[Way Bandy]]
* ''[[The Valley and the Hills]]'' by [[Leah Rawls Atkins]]
===Buildings===
* September: [[Springville Road Library]]
* [[Arlington Business Center]]
* [[Bill Battle Coliseum]]
* [[Covenant Presbyterian Church]]
* [[Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama]]
* [[St Vincent's West Pavilion]]
* [[South Central Bell Alabama Operations Center]]
* [[Striplin Field]]
* [[UAB]]'s [[Tidwell Hall]] was renovated for use by the [[UAB School of Public Health]].
* [[Vestavia Hills Baptist Church]] fellowship hall and adult classroom building
* [[Wenonah High School]] gym
=== Music ===
* "Panama City Bleach"/"This World is Killing Me" single by [[Jim Bob & the Leisure Suits]]
* Punk band [[Ether Dogs|the Ether Dogs]] was formed.


==Context==
==Context==
In 1981 52 American hostages in Iran were freed after 14 months.  Walter Cronkite retired as CBS's anchorman.
In 1981, 52 American hostages in Iran were freed after 14 months.  Walter Cronkite retired as CBS's anchorman.
Ronald Reagan became the oldest elected American president and was later shot in a failed assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr.  NASA launched the first Space Shuttle.  Andrew Lloyd Weber's ''Cats'' debuted in London.
Ronald Reagan became the oldest elected American president and was later shot in a failed assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr.  NASA launched the first Space Shuttle.  Andrew Lloyd Weber's ''Cats'' debuted in London.
Pope John Paul II was critically injured by an assassination attempt.  Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married.
Pope John Paul II was critically injured by an assassination attempt.  Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married.

Latest revision as of 20:48, 30 March 2024

1981 was the 110th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

EWTN
95-Rock

Business

Full Moon BBQ

Education

Government

Religion

Sports

Bear Bryant
See also: 1981 Birmingham Barons

Individuals

Births

Graduations

Awards

Deaths

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1981

Works

Books

Buildings

Music

Context

In 1981, 52 American hostages in Iran were freed after 14 months. Walter Cronkite retired as CBS's anchorman. Ronald Reagan became the oldest elected American president and was later shot in a failed assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. NASA launched the first Space Shuttle. Andrew Lloyd Weber's Cats debuted in London. Pope John Paul II was critically injured by an assassination attempt. Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married. Three walkways collapsed at the Kansas City Hyatt Regency hotel. IBM introduced the Personal Computer. Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice.

Notable 1981 births include Eli Manning, Elijah Wood, Justin Timberlake, Paris Hilton, Hayden Christensen, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, and Britney Spears. Notable deaths in 1981 included Bob Marley, George Walsh and Natalie Wood.

The top films were Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, and Superman II. Chariots of Fire was Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Top pop singles included Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes", Diana Ross & Lionel Richie's "Endless Love", Olivia Newton-John's "Physical", and John Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over".

1980s
<< 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 >>
Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works
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