1987

1987 was the 116th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• March 1: The Homewood Public Library moved into the former Homewood Church of Christ.
• April 3: A rare snowfall brought 5 inches to Birmingham.
• September 29: The Jefferson County Occupational Tax was created.

Business

• May: I Cover the War began publication.
• Blach's declared bankruptcy.
• The Clay-Chalkville Animal Clinic was founded.
• Cooking Light magazine began publication.
• Jim Dearth became CEO of Children's Hospital.
• Kiwanis Club of Birmingham opened its membership to women.
• Lou's Pub and Package Store opened.
• The Magic Platter opened.
• The Parisian Clearance Center moved to the Palisades.
• Several local Pizitz stores were converted to McRae's.
• Redmont School was founded.
• The Shepherd Centre was proposed.
• Space One Eleven opened with Jon Coffelt as the inaugural artist.
• TC opened.
• WBRC was sold by Taft Radio and Television to Great American Radio & TV Corporation.
• WTTO was sold by Arlington Broadcasting to HR Broadcasting.
• Simply Fashions was founded.
• Barton-Clay Fine Jewelers was founded.

Sports

• January 20: Baseball player Vida Blue signed with the Oakland Athletics.
• April 30: Bill Elliott set a record for the fastest recorded time in a stock car at 212.809 mph during qualifying at the Talladega Superspeedway.
• May 3: Bobby Allison crashed spectacularly at the Winston 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway, leading to a 4-hour red flag and a shortened race, won by his son, rookie Davey Allison.
• July 11: Bo Jackson signed a $7.4 million contract with the Los Angeles Raiders.
• August 30: Two Birmingham Barons records were set as Tom Forrester hit three home runs and another extra base hit in a game against Columbus.
• November 27: Auburn won the Iron Bowl, 10-0.
• The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA college basketball tournament.
• The Birmingham Barons changed their home field from Rickwood to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Nonprofits and Churches

• 55th Place opened.
• The Alabama Wildlife Center moved to Oak Mountain State Park.
• Birmingham Civic Opera Association merged with the Southern Regional Opera to form the Birmingham Opera Theater.
• Birmingham Landmarks was founded to save the Alabama Theatre.
• EWTN expanded to broadcasting 24 hours a day.
• Guiding Light Church was founded.
• Hunter Street Baptist Church moved to Hoover.

Works

Albums

• Angel Band by Emmylou Harris
• Trio by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt

Buildings

• July 12: Chestnut Hill Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• BE&K headquarters
• Hewitt-Trussville Junior High classroom annex
• Mervyn H. Sterne Library addition
• Park Building
• Pickwick Place
• Red Mountain cut granted National Natural Landmark status

People

• Alan Hunter left MTV.

Births

• January 25: Andre Smith, football player
• June 16: Diana DeGarmo, singer and actress (American Idol)
• Ryan Evans, murder victim and accused murderer

Deaths

• March 7: A. H. Woodward, Jr, industrialist
• May 14: Luke Sewell, baseball player and manager
• July 13: Johnny High, basketball player
• July 14: Joseph Vath, first Bishop of Birmingham

Context

In 1987, top stories in the United States included Gary Hart's withdrawal from the U.S. presidential race after his affair with Donna Rice was exposed, Jim Bakker's affair with Jessica Hahn, and baby Jessica McClure being rescued from a well. In Russia, Mathias Rust landed his plane in Red Square and Gorbachev introduced perestroika. And advertisers created the California Raisins.

1980s

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