1996

1996 was the 125th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• January 1: The West End Masonic Temple caught fire.
• July 1-September 1: The First Emperor: Treasures from Ancient China exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
• August 14: Clay-Chalkville High School and the new location of Shades Valley High School opened.
• September 1: ABC 33/40 went on the air and WBRC 6 became Birmingham's FOX affiliate.
• October 2: The Birmingham Regional EMS System handled its first interagency call.
• October 24: President Bill Clinton spoke at Birmingham-Southern College.
• Lonnie Holley was the 1996 "Distinguished Artist" from the Magic City Art Connection.
• The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service began wearing newly-redesigned shoulder patches.
• Cleveland Hammonds was hired as superintendent of St Louis, Missouri's public schools.
• Birmingham City Schools launched the Workplace Instructional Resources and Educational Development with Steve Orel as director.
• The original John Carroll Catholic High School buildings on Highland Avenue were demolished.

Business

• January 1: Dowd Ritter became president and CEO of AmSouth Bank.
• February: The Cobb Midfield 6 closed.
• April 11: Compass Bank acquired Equitable Bankshares of Dallas, Texas.
• April 19: Compass Bank acquired Post Oak Bank of Houston, Texas.
• July 15: WFFX-FM (95.7 The Fox) changed over to WBHJ-FM (95.7 Jamz)
• August 23: Compass Bank acquired CFB Bancorp of Jacksonville, Florida.
• October: Hibbett Sporting Goods went public.
• Torchmark Corporation acquired United American of McKinney, Texas.
• Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds was founded.
• Wes Chapman was hired as director of the Alabama Ballet.
• Lazlo's Pizza in Lakeview closed.
• Steve Hewett left AmSouth Bank to work for Nashville's Quorum Health Group.
• The Fifth Avenue Coffee House opened.
• Hubbell Power Systems acquired Leeds' Anderson Electric.
• Jane and Dave Caswell founded the Kalahari Pepper Company.
• Walter Turner founded School Transportation Solutions.

Sports

• April 20: Terrell Owens was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers as the 89th overall pick.
• May: John Bland won the Bruno's Memorial Classic.
• June 4: Josh Hancock was selected in the 3rd round of the MLB draft.
• June 12: The Barons defeated the Memphis Chicks 3-2 in the inaugural Rickwood Classic.
• July: 1996 Olympic soccer games at Legion Field.
• Murry Bartow was hired as UAB Blazers men's basketball head coach.
• Gene Stallings retired from the head coaching job for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

Works

Buildings

• Alys Stephens Center Phase I
• American Printing
• Cahaba Cycles
• Clay-Chalkville High School
• Shades Valley High School
• Southside Branch Library
• Ryals Public Health Building at UAB
• A proposal to convert the City Federal Building into the "Renaissance Apartments" was put forth, but came to naught.
• Burr & Forman purchased and renovated the Forbes Building.
• TV Alabama tower in Tuscaloosa County
• Landmark at Magnolia Glen apartments, phase II
• Barrington on the Green apartments

Books

• Birmingham View: Through the Years in Photographs
• In Search of Nature
• I Hate Paul Finebaum: 303 Reasons Why You Should, Too

Music

• Drive By Truckers was launched.

Individuals

• Irvin Penfield's title of dean of the college and vice president for academic affairs at Birmingham-Southern College was changed to "provost".
• Dale Benos was named chair of the UAB Department of Physiology and Biophysics.
• Abdurrahim El-Keib was made a full professor at the University of Alabama.
• Phyllis Wyne retired from South Central Bell.
• After completing his sixth term as Mayor of Gardendale, William Noble resumed serving as city attorney.
• Jefferson State Pioneers baseball coach and athletic director Donald Green retired.
• St John's Episcopal Church for the Deaf rector Camille Desmarais retired.
• Catholic priest Michael Dubruiel was "laicized".
• Educator John Monro retired from Tougaloo College outside Jackson, Mississippi.
• April 5-9: Coroner Robert Brissie served as acting Jefferson County Sheriff.

Births

• February 2: Cenzoo, Western Lowland Gorilla
• February 8: Olympia, a reticulated giraffe
• March 24: Sarena Martinez, Birmingham Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity official

Graduations

• Beth Shelburne graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism.

Marriages

• September 21: Robbie Fearn married Pamela Rowe.
• October 16: Attorney Hugo Black III married Jeannine Crowell in Pinecrest, Florida.

Awards

• Lonnie Holley was the 1996 "Distinguished Artist" from the Magic City Art Connection
• Dan Holliman was named 1996 Wildlife Conservationist of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation
• Roy Wood Jr graduated from Ramsay High School
• Vivian Malone Jones was presented with the inaugural "Lurleen B. Wallace Award of Courage".
• John Godbold won the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.
• Alabama Academy of Honor: Ann Bedsole, Thomas Bradford Jr, Frank Bromberg Jr, Alston Callahan, Thomas Corts, Edward Friend III, and William Spencer III
• Miss Shelby County: Haley Spates Mims

Deaths

A. G. Gaston. Photograph courtesy BPL Archives

• January 19: A. G. Gaston, businessman and civil rights activist
• January 29: James Bailey, former mayor of Leeds
• February 19: Charlie Finley, Oakland A's owner
• March 18: Albert Persons, aviator & newspaper publisher
• May 31: Timothy Leary, proponent of psychedelic drugs
• June 16: Mel Allen, New York Yankees broadcaster
• August 7: Helen Nies, Federal judge
• August 8: Tommy Charles, disc jockey and talk radio host
• September 22: Ferd Weil, businessman
• October 9: Lyn Spotswood, theater director
• November 11: Lum Harris, baseball player and manager
• November 17: Ida Moffett, nurse and educator
• December 2: Joe Gunther, professional wrestler and wrestling promoter
• December 16: Arthur Shores, attorney and former Birmingham City Council member
• Larry Connatser, painter
• Paul Hardin, Methodist bishop

See also List of Birmingham homicides in 1996

See Also

• 1996 City Stages
• 1996 Birmingham Barons
• 1996 UAB Blazers
• 1996 Iron Bowl

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