2017

2017 was the 146th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• January 10: Mayor William Bell delivered the 2017 State of the City address at the Harbert Center.
• January 12: President Barack Obama established the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument by presidential proclamation.
• January 21: The 2017 Women's March was held to promote women's rights as human rights.
• January 28: The exhibition "Third Space: Shifting Conversations About Contemporary Art" opened at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
• January 28: Sam's Deli & Grill was damaged in an electrical fire.
• February 8: Former Governor Don Siegelman was released from federal prison into supervised probation.
• February 15: Birmingham signed a Sister City agreement with Kingston, Jamaica.
• February 20-February 21: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg visited Birmingham and Tuscaloosa with his wife, Priscilla Chan.
• March 26: A family of four was killed in the 2017 Hayden plane crash.
• April: Rickwood Field was closed for emergency structural repairs.
• April 15: The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument was dedicated at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
• April 15: Four people were injured by gunfire at the Center Point Spring Carnival.
• June 22: Four people were injured by the 2017 Fairfield tornado.
• July 3: William Bell signed a Sister City agreement with the Mayor of Maebashi, Japan at a ceremony in the "Toshinan" (tea house) in Birmingham's Japanese Gardens.
• August 21: The Birmingham area experienced a partial solar eclipse, with approximately 93% of the sun covered by the passage of the moon at 1:32 PM. The "zone of totality" passed through central Tennessee and northeast Georgia.
• October 13: U.S. Steel demolished the blast furnace at Fairfield Works.
• October 28: The inaugural Southside Storyteller Festival was held at Five Points South.
• November 9: Washington Post reporters (including Stephanie McCrummen) broke the story of Roy Moore's alleged pattern of sexual assault and misconduct while he was an Assistant District Attorney in Etowah County.
• November 16: Stan Hogeland was elected president of the Jefferson County Mayors Association.
• November 20: Randall McFarland was appointed chief of the Bessemer Fire Department.

Business

• Birmingham's DirectPath acquired Patient Care of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• The Schauenburg International Group acquired a majority stake in OHD USA Inc.
• The Peoples Independent Bank of Boaz acquired Horizon Bank of Fyffe.
• April: Revelator Coffee Co. acquired Octane.
• April: Warren Averett acquired Kinsight.
• April: Courtney French bought WATV-AM from Sheriden Broadscasting of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• May: Vulcan Materials Company acquired Aggregates USA for $900 million.
• June: Accounting firm Borland Benefield merged with Lovoy Summerville & Shelton.
• June: Standard Creative merged with ArchitectureWorks.
• August: Royal Cup Coffee acquired Richgood Gourmet.
• September 1: David Walker succeeded Tim Collins as CEO of EBSCO Industries.
• October: The Bank of Wedowee was acquired by the Talladega-based First Bank of Alabama.
• December: Shipt was acquired by Target Inc. for $550 million.

Establishments

• January: Cosecha Urban Kitchen opened at LIV Parkside.
• February 8: Publix supermarket opened at 20 Midtown.
• Atomic Lounge opened on 1st Avenue North.
• February 15: The first vendors in the Pizitz Food Hall opened for business.
• February 20: II Fish V Loaves opened in Norwood.
• February 21: SoHo Social opened in Homewood's SoHo Square.
• Eugene's Hot Chicken opened at Uptown
• May 22: Miami Fusion Cafe opened on 5th Avenue North.
• July 1: The Birmingham Food Park opened on 24th Street North.
• Wheelhouse Salon opened a second location in the Graves Building.
• Spireworks opened at Innovation Depot
• Shelby County's 1,500-acre Cahaba River Park opened.
• National Mill Maintenance reopened the former Tarrant Hydraulic Service plant.
• September: Giniyat Mohammed and Kedija Teyeb opened Red Sea Ethiopian and Mediterranean restaurant.
• September 9: Shane Kelly and Daniel Sims opened Interstellar Ginger Beer and Exploration Co. in Alabaster.
• October 19: Whole Foods opened their second Birmingham area location at Riverchase Village Shopping Center in Hoover.
• October: Tropicaleo opened in the Avonwood Plaza.
• Rougaroux opened in Forest Park Village.
• Shoppe opened in Forest Park Village.
• Seeds Coffee opened in 29 Seven.
• Lawrence Lamb, H. Trent Spencer, and William Ho founded Incysus Therapeutics.
• Joy Smith opened Sorelle Catering.
• Dmitry Vassylyev founded TriAltus Bioscience.
• Joy King founded Enjoy Entertainment.

Disestablishments

• January: Tracy's Cafeteria closed.
• February: Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk closed.
• Food Depot in Pelham closed.
• Jewels by Rose in Vestavia Hills closed.
• February 27: Bravo Food Service was acquired by Four Foods Group.
• April: Computer Technology Solutions was acquired by CGI Group Inc.
• April 29: Renaissance Consignment Boutique closed.
• June 30: Capers on Park Avenue in the Bluff Park Community Center closed.
• Mike's Hot Dogs in Homewood closed.
• Deposits Online was acquired by LendingTree.
• Wilkerson Heating & Cooling closed.
• AloStar Bank of Commerce was acquired by State Bank and Trust of Atlanta.
• September 29: Community Newspaper Holdings was acquired by Raycom Media.
• Starbucks Coffee closed its 5 Points South location.
• On Tap Sports Cafe closed its Lakeview location.
• October 6: Sash and Beau children's consignment shop in Homewood closed.
• EBSCO's Vulcan Information Packaging/Binders Inc. division was sold to NAPCO of Sparta, North Carolina.
• TicketBiscuit was acquired by Etix of Morrisville, North Carolina.
• November: Fancy Goods Variety at Rocky Ridge Square in Vestavia Hills closed.
• November: Alabaster's CytoPath pathology laboratory was acquired by Aurora Diagnostics of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
• November: Schaeffer Eye Center was acquired by MyEyeDr of Vienna, Virginia.
• December: Cashio's Meatball Market on 29th Street South closed.
• December: Cosecha Urban Kitchen at LIV Parkside closed.

Education

• June 1: Southeastern Bible College suspended operations.
• The Alabama Bicentennial Schools Initiative was established.

Government

• The Birmingham Water Works Board was expanded from five to nine members.
• January 31: The Birmingham City Council adopted a Sanctuary City resolution.
• February 8: Jeff Sessions was confirmed as Attorney General of the United States.
• February 9: Luther Strange was appointed by Robert Bentley to fill Jeff Sessions vacant seat in the United States Senate.
• August 22: 2017 Birmingham municipal election
• September 14: Birmingham's Code of Ordinances was made available online (link).
• September 25: Brandon Dean's victory in the 2016 Brighton mayoral election was declared invalid by Judge Eugene Verin, who called for the city to schedule a runoff between Dean and incumbent Bobbie Watkins.
• October 3: 2017 Birmingham municipal election runoffs were held.
• October 24: The 2017-2021 Birmingham City Council was sworn in.
• November 28: Mayor Randall Woodfin took office.

Sports

• January 9: The Clemson Tigers defeated the 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide football team 35-31 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Tampa, Florida.
• February 3-5: 2017 Davis Cup first round tie was played at Legacy Arena.
• February 12: Dominic Korir and Sarah Pease won the Mercedes Marathon.
• February 25: Boxer Deontay Wilder defended his WBC world heavyweight title with a TKO of Gerald Washington at Legacy Arena.
• March 7-12 NCAA 2016 Division II Winter Festival was held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
• March 8-11: The 2017 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament was held at Legacy Arena.
• April 12: The 2017 Birmingham Barons lost to the Montgomery Biscuits in their home opener at Regions Field.
• June 2-15: 2017 National Senior Games
• September 2: The 2017 UAB Blazers football team made their debut with a 38-7 victory over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Legion Field.
• November 25 2017: Auburn won the Iron Bowl 24-10 at home.
• November 25: The 2017 UAB Blazers football team finished their regular season 8-4 after beating Texas-El Paso at Legion Field.
• December 22: The 2017 UAB Blazers football team played Ohio University in the Bahamas Bowl.

Individuals

• January 23: Bill Scott was sworn in as the 43rd Chief of the San Francisco Police Department.
• June: Christine Taylor was hired as vice president and associate provost for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Alabama.
• Joyce Spielberger succeeded Rebecca Dobrinski as executive director of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center.

Awards

• Alabama Academy of Honor: Kay Ivey, Deborah Edwards Barnhart, Cynthia Tucker Haynes, Cathy Sloss Jones
• Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame: Brian Barr, Paula Martese Marino, H. Stuart Starrett, Bill Harbert and Todd May
• Birmingham Business Hall of Fame: Sterling Edwards Jr, Leon Edwards, Bill Featheringill, Jay Grinney, Bill L. Harbert, William T. Warren
• Lou Wooster Public Health Hero Award presented to Joyce White Vance, JD for her leadership in creating a broad-based response to the heroin epidemic in northern Alabama.
• Miss Alabama: Jessica Proctor
• Jordan Fisher was champion of "Dancing with the Stars" season 25 on ABC.

Marriages

• Graham Boettcher succeeded Gail Andrews as director of the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Retirements

• Bill Battle III, University of Alabama Athletics Director
• Edward Partridge, Comprehensive Cancer Center director
• Eric Fancher, 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama
• Paul Syx, chief of the Bessemer Fire Department

Deaths

• January 2: Albert Brewer, former Governor of Alabama
• January 4: James C. Lewis, developer and contractor
• January 6: Courtney Haden, audio producer, radio host and columnist
• January 12: Ignatius Crockett, Orthodox priest
• January 30: Naomi Truman, former director of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District
• February 1: Artist and Space One Eleven founder Anne Arrasmith
• February 2: Tom Drake, former professional wrestler and Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives
• February 18: Jack Warner, Westervelt Company CEO and art collector
• February 19: Kyle Mabrey, professional bass angler
• February 19: David Tinsley, radio deejay
• March 4: John Hodnett, former Mayor of Hoover
• March 6: Clyde Foster, retired NASA official and Mayor of Triana
• March 15: Rena Hudson, former Mayor of Warrior
• March 16: Lewis White, radio personality and educator
• March 16: Lee McKee, blacksmith and metal artist
• March 16: Andrew J. Kennedy, Catholic priest
• April 30: Boots Carroll, actress
• April 30: Kevin Sutton, chief of the Fairfield Fire Department
• May 19: Grady Cothen, pastor of First Baptist Church of Birmingham
• May 26: Edouard Bruchac, photographer
• June 2: Former Auburn University president James E. Martin
• June 4: Convenience store clerk Mike Ngangi was murdered.
• June 5: Attorney, political consultant and author Vic Gold
• June 23: Attorney, political candidate and former "Mickey Mouse" portrayer Buddy Hendrix
• July 8: Actor Nelsan Ellis
• July 22: Everett Holle, broadcaster
• August 9: Janie Shores, former Alabama Supreme Court justice
• September 4: Wink Chapman died following a brief illness.
• September 10: Bob Mount, Auburn University herpetologist
• September 14: Philip Morris, editor and civic activist
• September 28: Dick Lee, banker
• Tommy Hogan
• Vic Rumore
• November 7: Bob Burks, research chemist and environmental activist
• November 17: Steve Spencer, ADEM official
• November 27: Walter Knapp, pianist
• November 29: Jim Nabors, actor and singer
• November 30: John Lusco, dean of students at Indian Springs School
• December 7: Fritz Woehle, architect and owner of "The Garages"
• December 15: Walter Howlett, president and CEO of A. G. Gaston Construction
• December 25: Angelo Sarris, restaurateur
• December 28: Greg Wallace, Birmingham Post-Herald sports reporter

See also, List of homicides in 2017.

Works

• "Let There Be Light", a feature film directed by Kevin Sorbo and shot in the Birmingham area.

Books

• Robb, Frances Osborn (2017) Shot in Alabama: A History of Photography, 1839–1941 Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press ISBN 081731878X
• McLafferty, Clair (2017) The Classic & Craft Cocktail Recipe Book: The Definitive Guide to Mixing Perfect Cocktails from Aviation to Zombie. Emeryville, California: Rockridge Press ISBN 1623158478
• Millard, Andre (2017) Magic City Nights: Birmingham's Rock 'n' Roll Years. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press ISBN 9780819576972
• Bass, S. Jonathan (2017) He Calls Me By Lightning: The Life of Caliph Washington and the forgotten Saga of Jim Crow, Southern Justice, and the Death Penalty
• Black, Art (2017) Showdown at Rickwood: Ray Caldwell, Dizzy Dean, and the Early Years of America's Oldest Ball Park Blue Rooster Press ISBN 9780988980730

Buildings

• 20 Midtown apartments and retail in the Midtown district
• Birmingham Intermodal Facility on Morris Avenue
• CrossPlex Village
• Finley Center at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex
• Homestead Village shopping center in Trussville
• Metropolitan Apartments in Lakeview
• Park 35 on Clairmont apartments in Lakeview/Forest Park Village
• Row5 townhouses on Morris Avenue
• ServisFirst headquarters building on Woodcrest Place in Homewood
• The Thomas on 2nd Avenue North
• UAB Football Operations Building and Legacy Pavillion at UAB
• The Waites apartments and retail in Southside
• Expansion of the Mercedes-Benz US International assembly plant in Tuscaloosa
• Watco STAT Center in Fairfield

Demolitions

• Exchange Security Bank Mountain Brook branch
• Hooper Creek Apartments on 4th Avenue South
• UAB Parking Lot 15A on University Blvd
• UAB Parking Lot 55 on 20th Street South
• Loveman Village in North Titusville

Context

In 2017 Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus ceased operating. The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl 34-28 in overtime. Several people were killed in a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria wrought enormous damage in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, respectively. The Georgia Dome in Atlanta was demolished.

Notable deaths in 2017 included actors Powers Boothe, Miguel Ferrer, June Foray, Robert Guillaume, John Hurt, Martin Landau, Mary Tyler Moore, Roger Moore, Charlie Murphy and Bill Paxton; astronaut Bruce McCandless, comedians Dick Gregory, Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles and Jay Thomas; authors William Blatty, Bharati Mukherjee, Robert Pirsig and Sue Grafton; columnist Frank DeFord, poets John Ashbery and Derek Walcott; musicians Gregg Allman, Walter Becker, Chuck Berry, Glen Campbell, David Cassidy, Fats Domino, John Geils, Bruce Hampton, Al Jarreau, Tom Petty, Pete Seeger, Della Reese, Mel Tillis and Butch Trucks; Roe v. Wade plaintiff Norma McCorvey; Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, former Panamanian president Manuel Noriega, convicted terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman; murderous cult leader Charles Manson; banker David Rockefeller, filmmakers Jonathan Demme and George Romero, NAMCO founder Masaya Nakamura and Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch.

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