1970

1970 was the 99th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• The National Civic League named Birmingham an All-American City.
• The "One Great City" campaign was announced.
• The U. S. Census counted 300,910 residents in Birmingham.
• The town of Eldridge in Walker County was incorporated.
• The Gulf South Conference was founded in Hammond, Louisiana.
• Elton B. Stephens Expressway and Malfunction Junction opened to traffic.
• UAB's graduate school was founded.
• George Scofield purchased the George Wofford residence.
• The First National Bank Building was renamed the John A. Hand Building.
• Homewood and Vestavia Hills formed their own independent school systems.
• Chilton County was added to the Birmingham planning and development district.
• Howell Heflin was elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham was chartered.
• January 3: The remains of Vietnam Veteran Bill Terry Jr were moved to Elmwood Cemetery from Shadow Lawn Cemetery following a court battle that barred the cemetery's owners from closing the cemetery to African Americans.
• January 8: Birmingham honored the Apollo 12 astronauts with the first ticker-tape parade in the city's history.
• April 8: Chicago performed at Municipal Auditorium for a concert organized by the UAB College of General Studies Entertainment Committee.
• April 22: GASP held its first Earth Day protests.
• May 7: Student and FBI informant Charlie Grimm set fire to the vacant Dressler Hall at the University of Alabama, touching off a two-week lockdown of the campus during the height of anti-war demonstrations which followed the shooting deaths of four students by National Guardsmen at Kent State University in Ohio.
• June 28: An inaugural Birmingham Pop free music festival featuring Felt, So But So What and Chair was held at Avondale Park.
• July 1: The Homewood Board of Education assumed authority over Homewood City Schools.
• The Birmingham Dinner Theatre closed.
• September 15: Five members of the Alabama Black Liberation Front sat in ambush of Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies sent to evict Beatrice Turner from her home in Tarrant City. The only shots fired were from law enforcement. All five were arrested.
• September 18: The Downtown Action Committee's Spectro 70 concert and fashion show with Al Hirt was held at Municipal Auditorium.
• October: The Jaycee's Haunted House debuted in Lakeview.
• A special ceremony honoring Vietnam War hero Matthew Leonard was held in Birmingham.
• Dawson Memorial Baptist Church began broadcasting Sunday services on WBMG-TV.
• Betty Jane McGowen and Mrs A. J. Beaver relocated headstones from the former Williamson Hawkins plantation to Elyton Cemtery.
• November 25: The Allman Brothers played a UAB SGA-sponsored show at the Oporto Armory.
• December 17: A downtown fire destroyed three stores on the 1800 block of 3rd Avenue North.
• December 24: Hanceville's Blue and Gray Hotel burned to the ground.
• December 31: Operation Pride, a federally-funded housing improvement program in three Northside neighborhoods, expired.

Business

• John Woods succeeded Newton DeBardeleben as president of the First National Bank of Birmingham.
• Etheridge Brothers Barber & Style founded by Willie Etheridge, Sr and Joe Etheridge.
• Michael Matsos purchased the Golden Rule Bar-B-Q chain from Jabo and Ellene Stone.
• Metalplate opened a facility in Atlanta.
• Sam Graphos opened a second Sneaky Pete's location in Homewood.
• Park Communications purchased WBMG 42 and changed it over to full time CBS programming.
• Florida Capital purchased the Jack's chain from Jack Caddell.
• Arthur Serwitz founded the Riverview Animal Clinic.
• March 20: Constantine's opened in the Travelodge Motel in Vestavia Hills.
• Husky Barber Shop opened in Trussville.
• All Seasons Travel was founded.
• Rumore's Record Rack moved from 2nd Avenue North to The Curve in Homewood.
• B & D Electric Motor Co. was founded.

Education

• Neal Berte became dean of the New College at the University of Alabama.
• Bessemer High School closed and was replaced by Jess Lanier High School in the fall.
• Ullman High School closed, with students transferring to Ramsay High School.
• Bessemer Academy was founded.
• Wilson Fallin, Jr succeeded Talmadge Bussey as president of the Birmingham Baptist College.
• Ida Moffett retired as director of the Birmingham Baptist Hospital School of Nursing
• Shin Oh joined the faculty of UAB.
• The UAB Graduate School opened with Samuel Barker as dean.
• Moton High School was closed as Leeds High School was integrated.
• Principal Desmond Regan left John Carroll Catholic High School.
• Edna Snow succeeded Helen Fuller as principal of Edgewood Elementary School.
• February 1: Archie Wade joined the faculty of the University of Alabama's Department of Physical Education.
• November 17: The Gardendale Area Vocational School was renamed George M. Rogers Area Vocational Center in honor of George M. Rogers.

Religion

• Hudson Baggett served as interim pastor of McElwain Baptist Church.
• Mark Elovitz succeeded Philip Silverstein as rabbi of Temple Beth-El.
• Wallace Wirtz left the pulpit at St Andrew's Episcopal Church.

Sports

• February 7: LSU's Pete Maravich scored a record 69 points in a 104-102 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide at Memorial Coliseum.
• March 24: Buddy Baker broke the 200 mph barrier at the Talladega Superspeedway.
• The 1970 Birmingham A's went 73-65.
• October: Alabama A&M defeated Alabama State 26-18 in the Magic City Classic at Legion Field.
• December: Auburn won the 1970 Iron Bowl, 33-28.
• December: Bear Bryant begins planning to install the wishbone offense after losing to Oklahoma in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
• Donnie Allison recorded three NASCAR wins.
• Jim Davenport played his last season with the San Francisco Giants.
• Rose Fiorella started the volleyball program at Ramsay High School.
• John Hannah became a starter for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
• Pat Sullivan led the country in total offense and yards per play for the Auburn Tigers.
• Gene Bartow became the head basketball coach at Memphis State University.
• A Poly-Turf artificial surface was installed at Legion Field.
• Thompson Reynolds became head football coach and athletic director for the new Vestavia Hills High School.
• Kenny Stabler began his Oakland Raiders career.

Individuals

• Angela Davis appeared on the FBI's Most Wanted list.
• Kate Jackson appeared in the television series Dark Shadows.
• Philip Alford appeared in the television series' The Intruders, and The Virginian.
• Fannie Flagg appeared in the feature film, Five Easy Pieces.
• Arthur Serwitz opened his veterinary practice.
• Hugo Black ruled in Oregon v. Mitchell that states should set the voting age for their elections.
• Gail Patrick chaired the national Christmas Seals campaign.
• Timothy Leary was sentenced for a 1968 drug conviction.
• Bill Mason completed a residency in dermatology at UAB Hospital.
• Chuck Wingate joined the Bluff Park Fire Department.

Births

• January 13: James Williams, radio personality
• January 23: Audra Smith, UAB Blazers women's basketball coach
• February 14: Barry McNealy, educator
• February 27: Deborah Vance, television reporter and Larry Langford's chief of staff
• February 28: Dave Gray, former CEO of Daxko
• May 1: Stephanie McCrummen, Washington Post reporter
• May 12: Louis Nequette, architect
• May 22: Rodney Dodson, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Captain
• June 15: Chris Hartsell, hospital administrator and Larry Langford's chief of operations
• July 7: Christopher Davis, artist and comedian
• June 20: Matthew Myers, owner of Magic City Motor Scooters
• August: Jody Trautwein, pastor, activist and politician
• September 8: Latrell Sprewell, basketball player
• September 9: Warren Kidd, basketball player
• September 27: John Croushorn, physician and inventor
• September 30: Tony Hale, actor
• November 6: Kevin McGowin, author
• November 8: Michael Miller, banker and former radio host
• November 17: Paul Cordes Wilm and Peter Wilm, artists and musicians
• November 22: Chris Fryar, percussionist
• December 1: Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, internet security expert
• December 1: George Wilkerson, UAB Blazers basketball player
• December 11: Jay Taylor, community activist and author
• LeNell Camacho Santa Ana, bartender
• Michael Carpri, bar and restaurant owner
• Jennifer Parsons Champion, Jefferson County treasurer
• Bill Cleveland: Homewood City Schools superintendent
• Jon Darnell, musician
• Kelvin Datcher, state legislator
• Juandalynn Givan, state legislator
• K. D. Hardy, author and motivational speaker
• James Lewis, chef and restaurateur
• Lee Loder, former Birmingham City Council president
• Scott McBrayer, Mayor of Homewood
• Christy Opara, fitness coach
• Steve Raley, truck driver and TikTok celebrity
• Chris Reebals, architect
• Jeffrey Ronilo, bookkeeper
• Kim Sunée, food writer
• Natasha Zaretsky, historian

Graduations

• Hilbun Adams graduated from Mountain Brook High School.
• Dixon Brooke Jr completed his bachelor of science in business administration at Auburn University.
• David Carrington earned a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Houston.
• Bill Featheringill completed an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
• Glenn Garrett graduated from Woodlawn High School.
• Elmer Harris earned his MBA from Auburn University.
• Earl Hilliard earned his MBA from Atlanta University
• Bernard Kincaid earned his bachelor's degree from Miles College.
• Cam Langley earned a bachelor's in engineering at Virginia Tech.
• Henry Parsley earned his bachelor's degree from Sewanee University.
• Shirley Salloway from Sylacauga High School.
• Condoleezza Rice graduated from St Mary's Academy in Denver, Colorado
• Luther Strange graduated from Shades Valley High School.

Marriages

• May 30: William Hoole to Addie Shirley Coleman.

Awards

• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame: Hank Crisp, John Heisman, Wilbur Hutsell, Jesse Owens, Joseph Sewell, William Van de Graaff, Wallace Wade, and Gus Wynn.
• Alabama Women's Hall of Fame: Julia S. Tutwiler
• Female Vocalist of the Year (Country Music Association): Tammy Wynette (third year in a row)
• Miss Alabama: Suzanne Dennie
• Miss Black Alabama: Brenda Duff

Deaths

• January 18: David O. Whilldin, architect (born 1881)
• January 24: Eva Griswold, temperance worker
• January 23: Hank Crisp, college coach and athletic director (born 1896)
• February 5: Rudy York, baseball player (born 1913)
• April 11: Cathy O'Donnell, actor (born 1923)
• April 13: Fant Thornley, Birmingham Public Library director (born 1909)
• June 15: Charles McCauley, architect (born 1893)
• July 16: Peahead Walker, football coach (born 1899)
• September 22: Indiana Little, suffragist
• October 28: Wedo Martini, baseball player (born 1913)
• November 24: Ivy Andrews, baseball player (born 1907)
• November 28: Bethel Whitson, surveyor and cartographer (born 1892)
• December 28: Preuit Holland Sr, Avondale Elementary School principal (born 1900)
• Pauline Fletcher, nurse and camp director (born 1878)
• Philip Mewhinney, architect

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1970

Works

• "Touch Me", sculpture by Yaacov Agam
• Holiday for Soul Dance, album by Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra
• The Long Swift Sword of Siegfried, film produced by David F. Friedman
• The Bronx is Next, play by Sonia Sanchez
• You Can Be Anyone This Time Around audio recording by Timothy Leary
• "Tops & Button" comic strip by Howard Cruse debuted in the Birmingham Post-Herald.
• "People and Things" column by Clettus Atkinson debuted in the Birmingham Post-Herald.

Books

• Birmingham's First Magic Century: Were You There? by Bertha Bendall Norton
• We a BaddDDD People, poems by Sonia Sanchez
• Prophets for a New Day, by Margaret Walker
• Jail Notes by Timothy Leary
• "Mary Gordon Duffee's Sketches of Alabama, edited by Virginia Pounds Brown and Jane Porter Nabers

Buildings

• Construction began on the Airport Highway Park (industrial park).
• Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Martin Luther King Jr Drive campus)
• Eastgate Shopping Center in Center Point
• Elton B. Stephens Expressway (Red Mountain cut)
• Highland Ridge Apartments in Birmingham
• Emerald Pointe Apartments in Hoover
• Renovations to the Jefferson County Courthouse Bessemer Division
• Jess Lanier High School
• Malfunction Junction
• Marshall Durbin Companies headquarters office and processing plant
• Mountainside Apartment Homes on Penthouse Drive in Five Points South
• St Clair Regional Hospital in Pell City
• Vestavia Hills High School
• Western Hills Mall
• The City of Birmingham approved $1 million for renovations to Vulcan Park.
• A 900-pound cast concrete owl was replaced atop Shades Cahaba School.
• July 1: Ground was broken for UAB's Diabetes Research and Education Building.
• Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• Westlee Park apartments (Phase 2)

Demolitions

• May 7: Dressler Hall at the University of Alabama burned down.
• September Loew's Temple Theater was demolished.
• December 24: Hanceville's Blue and Gray Hotel burned down.

Context

In 1970 Paolo Soleri began constructing Arcosanti in Arizona. The Chicago Seven were found not guilty of inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Guyana and Rhodesia became independent republics. The World's Fair was held in Osaka, Japan. A postal workers strike suspended mail in several major cities. Earth Day was recognized nationally. The Concorde broke the sound barrier. Cigarette ads were banned from TV. The Beatles disbanded. Apollo 13 was aborted after an explosion. Four student protesters were shot and killed at Kent State University. The national voting age was lowered to 18. Brazil won the World Cup in Mexico City. The US withdrew ground forces from Cambodia. Egypt completed the Aswan High Dam. PBS premiered on television and Doonesbury debuted in print. The Environmental Protection Agency was founded. The World Trade Center North Tower was topped out.

Notable 1970 births include actors Vince Vaughn, Minnie Driver, Matt Damon, River Phoenix, Heather Graham and Uma Thurman; musicians Queen Latifah, Beck, Debbie Gibson; and golfer Annika Sörenstam. Deaths in 1970 included Mark Rothko, Erle Stanley Gardner, E. M. Forster, Vince Lombardi, Jimi Hendrix, John Dos Passos, Janis Joplin, and Charles de Gaulle. Top grossing films of 1970 included M*A*S*H, Airport, Catch-22 and Hello, Dolly. Patton won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Deliverance by James Dickey was published. Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature.

1970s

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Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works