January 12

January 12 in the history of the Birmingham District:

• 2019: The Emmanuel Fellowship Church and Longview Institute in Riverside were destroyed by arson.
• 2016: William Bell delivered the 2016 State of the City address to the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.
• 2007: The 2007 State of the Region luncheon was held at the Harbert Center.
• 2004: Joe Namath entered into an outpatient alcoholism treatment program.
• 1932: Lightning caused a fire which destroyed the upper floor of the Walker County Courthouse.

Births

• 1979: Restaurateur Mauricio Papapietro was born in Birmingham.
• 1936: Father Andrew J. Kennedy was born in Tipperary, Ireland.
• 1917: Jessie Hale Downs, co-founder of the Jimmie Hale Mission, was born in Moundville.
• 1912: Football player Howard Bailey was born.
• 1876: Doctor Laura Burton was born.
• 1859: Hardware salesman and Alderman Harry Jones was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Deaths

• 2017: Orthodox priest Ignatius Crockett died.
• 2014: UAB School of Medicine dean James Pittman died.
• 2014: Construction executive Bob Burton died.
• 2009: Ballet dancer Gage Bush Englund died in New York City.
• 1999: Radio actress Betty Lou Gerson died after a stroke.
• 1992: Retired Alabama Supreme Court justice Eric Embry died from cancer.
• 1990: Prison guard Bill Donaldson was stabbed to death at the West Jefferson Correctional Facility.
• 1972: Parker High School band director John T. "Fess" Whatley died.
• 1940: Walter Smyer died.
• 1910: Birmingham News founder Rufus Rhodes died.

Sports

• 2016: The 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Clemson Tigers 45-40 in the College Football Playoff championship game.
• 2002: The Alabama Slammers won 2-0 against the Tampa Bay Force in a forfeit.