1979: Difference between revisions

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==Events==
==Events==
[[Image:Mayor Richard Arrington.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Richard Arrington, Jr became Birmingham's first African-American mayor in 1979]]
[[Image:Mayor Richard Arrington.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Richard Arrington, Jr became Birmingham's first African-American mayor in 1979]]
* [[January 15]]: [[Howell Heflin]] was sworn in as a U. S. Senator.
* [[March 30]]: The [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service]] strike ended.
* May: [[Birmingham]] city workers [[1979 Birmingham employees strike|went on strike]] to protest a change in their insurance carrier.
* March 30: [[The Police]] played a concert at [[Brother's Music Hall]].
* [[April 22]]: The "Big Boy" statue from [[Shoney's Big Boy]] at [[Hoover Mall]] was stolen.
* [[April 24]]: The "Big Boy" statue from [[Shoney's Big Boy]] at [[Hoover Mall]] was found on the roof of [[Berry High School]].
* [[May 2]]: A [[1979 Bessemer City Hall letter bomb|letter bomb]] at [[Bessemer City Hall]] killed [[Bessemer Police Department|Bessemer Police]] Lieutenant [[Clifford Hill]].
* [[May 2]]: A [[1979 Bessemer City Hall letter bomb|letter bomb]] at [[Bessemer City Hall]] killed [[Bessemer Police Department|Bessemer Police]] Lieutenant [[Clifford Hill]].
* [[June 19]]-[[June 20|20]]: The [[1979 National Prohibition Convention]] was held at [[Motel Birmingham]].
* [[May 5]]: Kidnapping victim [[Gary Collier]] was rescued when motorists reported seeing his hand sticking out of the trunk of a car on [[I-20/59]].
* [[August 18]]: [[Legion Field]] hosted the Drum Corps International World Championships.
* [[August 18]]: [[Legion Field]] hosted the Drum Corps International World Championships.
* [[November 1]]: An explosion at the [[Hercules Powder Plant]] in [[Bessemer]] killed one worker.
* [[October 31]]: An explosion at the [[Hercules Powder Plant]] in [[Bessemer]] killed one worker.
* [[Festival of Arts]] Salute to Canada
* [[Festival of Arts]] Salute to Canada
* [[Richard Arrington, Jr]] took office as the first African-American [[Mayor of Birmingham]].
* [[Lonnie Holley]] began carving sculptures in foundry stone cast-offs.
* [[Lonnie Holley]] began carving sculptures in foundry stone cast-offs.
* [[WBRC 6]] launched its new "Chopper 6" helicopter.
* The [[Birmingham Sunlights]] were founded.
* The [[Birmingham Sunlights]] were founded.
* The first [[Do Dah Day]] parade was held on [[Highland Avenue]].
* The first [[Do Dah Day]] parade was held on [[Highland Avenue]].
* [[Bobby Tanory|Bobby T]] debuted his pioneering music video show.
* [[Bobby Tanory|Bobby T]] debuted his pioneering music video show.
* [[Fob James]] was sworn in as [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]].
* [[Cleveland Eaton]] joined the Count Basie Orchestra.
* [[Cleveland Eaton]] joined the Count Basie Orchestra.
* The [[Alabama Theatre]] began its annual showing of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' at Halloween.
* The [[Alabama Theatre]] began its annual showing of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' at Halloween.
* The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra became the [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]].
* The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra became the [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]].
* A committee was formed to pursue development of the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]].
* A committee was formed to pursue development of the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]].
* [[Richard Shelby]] was elected to represent the [[7th Congressional District of Alabama]].
* The [[Vestavia Belles]] debuted as part of the [[Vestavia Hills Dogwood Festival]].
* The [[Vestavia Belles]] debuted as part of the [[Vestavia Hills Dogwood Festival]].
* The [[Auburn University]] School of Nursing began operating.
* The [[Auburn University]] School of Nursing began operating.
* [[Tadpole]] joined fellow hippopotamus [[Mama Petite]] at the [[Birmingham Zoo]].
* [[Tadpole]] joined fellow hippopotamus [[Mama Petite]] at the [[Birmingham Zoo]].
* [[Ellsberry Park]] was dedicated in honor of Pearl Harbor casualty [[Julius Ellsberry]].
* [[Ellsberry Park]] was dedicated in honor of Pearl Harbor casualty [[Julius Ellsberry]].
* [[Patti and the Doc]] debuted on [[WZZK-FM]].
:''See also [[1979 Birmingham municipal election]]''.


===Business===
===Business===
* [[June 2]]: Used book shop [[Cather & Brown Books|Ex Libris]] opened at [[The Garages]].
* [[BE&K]] purchased the F. N. Thompson Company.
* [[BE&K]] purchased the F. N. Thompson Company.
* [[William A. Powell]] became president of [[AmSouth Bank]].
* [[William A. Powell]] became president of [[AmSouth Bank]].
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* [[Houston Blount]] became CEO of [[Vulcan Materials]].
* [[Houston Blount]] became CEO of [[Vulcan Materials]].
* [[Saint Bernard College|Southern Benedictine College]] in [[Cullman]] closed.
* [[Saint Bernard College|Southern Benedictine College]] in [[Cullman]] closed.
* [[Joe Rumore]]'s [[Rumore's Record Rack]] closed.
* [[U.S. Steel]]'s [[Fairfield Wire Works]] was shut down.
* [[Jim Lunceford]] founded [[Express Oil Change]].
* [[Egan's Bar]] opened in [[Tuscaloosa]].
===Government===
* [[January 15]]: [[Howell Heflin]] was sworn in as a U. S. Senator.
* [[Richard Shelby]] was elected to represent the [[7th Congressional District of Alabama]].
* [[Fob James]] was sworn in as [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]].
* May: [[Birmingham]] city workers [[1979 Birmingham employees strike|went on strike]] to protest a change in their insurance carrier.
* [[June 19]]-[[June 20|20]]: The [[1979 National Prohibition Convention]] was held at [[Motel Birmingham]].
* [[October 9]]: The [[1979 Birmingham municipal election]] was held.
* [[November 14]]: [[Richard Arrington]] [[1979 Birmingham inaugural address|took office]] as the first African-American [[Mayor of Birmingham]].
===Media===
* [[Patti and the Doc]] debuted on [[WZZK-FM]].
* [[Mike Royer]] became a weather forecaster at [[WBRC 6]].
* [[WBRC 6]] launched its new "Chopper 6" helicopter.
* "[[Kidsworld 13]]" debuted on [[WAPI-TV]]


===Sports===
===Sports===
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* [[Aubie]] made his debut at [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]]'s home opener against Kansas State.
* [[Aubie]] made his debut at [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]]'s home opener against Kansas State.
* Catcher [[Mike O'Berry]] made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox.
* Catcher [[Mike O'Berry]] made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox.
* [[December 7]]: Enterprise High School defeated [[Vestavia Hills High School]] 14-13 in the [[1979 AHSAA football championship|4-A football championship game]] at [[Legion Field]].


==Individuals==
==Individuals==
* [[February 11]]: [[John Loper]] became pastor of [[Garywood Assembly of God]].
* [[February 11]]: [[John Loper]] became pastor of [[Garywood Assembly of God]].
* [[Don Siegelman]] took office as Secretary of State for Alabama.
* [[Ron Casey]] was promoted to the editorial board of ''[[The Birmingham News]]''.
* [[Robert F. Gibbons]] retired from the University of New Orleans.
* [[John Horgan]] became priest of the [[Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church]].
* [[Glenn Ireland II]] was appointed Commissioner of Mental Health by [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Fob James]].
* [[Kate Jackson]] left the hit show ''Charlie's Angels'' to start a film career.
* [[Kate Jackson]] left the hit show ''Charlie's Angels'' to start a film career.
* [[Colonel Stone Johnson]] retired from the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]].
* [[Richard N. Murray]] became director of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]].
* [[Richard N. Murray]] became director of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]].
* [[James Pfaffman]] served as president of [[AIA Birmingham]].
* [[Howell Raines]] became bureau chief for the ''New York Times'' Atlanta bureau.
* [[Howell Raines]] became bureau chief for the ''New York Times'' Atlanta bureau.
* [[Wayne Rogers]] starred in ''Trapper John M.D.''.
* [[Don Siegelman]] took office as Secretary of State for Alabama.
* [[Marvin L. Warner]] completed his term as Ambassador to Switzerland.
* [[Marvin L. Warner]] completed his term as Ambassador to Switzerland.
* [[James Pfaffman]] served as president of [[AIA Birmingham]].
* [[Ron Casey]] was promoted to the editorial board of ''[[The Birmingham News]]''.
* [[Wayne Rogers]] starred in ''Trapper John M.D.''.
* [[John Horgan]] became priest of the [[Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church]].
* [[Colonel Stone Johnson]] retired from the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]].
* [[Robert F. Gibbons]] retired from the University of New Orleans.


===Births===
===Births===
[[Image:Babec.jpg|right|thumb|Babec, born in 1979]]
[[Image:Babec.jpg|right|thumb|Babec, born in 1979]]
* [[January 9]]: [[David Odaibo]], computer scientist
* [[January 12]]: [[Mauricio Papapietro]], restaurateur
* [[January 12]]: [[Mauricio Papapietro]], restaurateur
* [[January 31]]: [[Jana McEachern]], marketing professional and former [[Miss Alabama]]
* [[February 5]]: [[Johnathan Austin]], [[Birmingham City Council]]or
* [[February 5]]: [[Johnathan Austin]], [[Birmingham City Council]]or
* [[February 8]]: [[Tara Gray]], television reporter
* [[February 8]]: [[Tara Gray]], television reporter
* [[February 24]]: [[Cory Moon]], [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service]] chief
* [[March 24]]: [[Seth Bobbitt]], baseball player
* [[March 24]]: [[Seth Bobbitt]], baseball player
* [[April 15]]: [[Victor Mercedes]], baseball player
* [[April 15]]: [[Victor Mercedes]], baseball player
* [[April 22]]: [[Kahlua]], Siberian tiger
* [[June 22]]: [[Rashada LeRoy]], founder of [[LRY Media Group]]
* [[July 11]]: [[David Platt]], minister
* [[July 30]]: [[Graeme McDowell]], golfer
* [[July 30]]: [[Graeme McDowell]], golfer
* [[September 20]]: [[Demetrius Newton, Jr]], communications instructor
* [[August 25]]: [[Daisy]], Siberian tiger
* [[September 20]]: [[Demetrius Newton Jr]], communications instructor
* [[October 1]]: [[Rudi Johnson]], football player
* [[October 1]]: [[Rudi Johnson]], football player
* [[October 25]]: [[Jeremy Brown]], baseball player
* [[October 25]]: [[Jeremy Brown]], baseball player
* [[December 22]]: [[Babec]], Western Lowland gorilla
* [[December 22]]: [[Babec]], Western Lowland gorilla
* [[December 28]]: [[André Holland]], actor
* [[Yaniv Attar]], [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]] assistant conductor
* [[Yaniv Attar]], [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]] assistant conductor
* [[Nelsan Ellis]], actor
* [[Walter Griffin III]], trainee locomotive conductor
* [[John Joseph]], entrepreneur
* [[John Joseph]], entrepreneur
* [[Gina Locklear]], sock manufacturer
* [[Gina Locklear]], sock manufacturer
* [[Jacklyn Loquidis-Hamric]], interior designer, radio host and blogger
* [[Kevin McKie]], attorney and [[Birmingham Water Works]] vice chair
* [[Shegun Otulana]], founder of [[Therapy Brands]] and [[Harmony Venture Labs]]
* [[Paget Pizitz]], matchmaker and food truck owner
* [[Paget Pizitz]], matchmaker and food truck owner
* [[Marquelon Sigler]], real estate agent
* [[Marquelon Sigler]], real estate agent
* [[Adrienne Starks]], biologist and educator
* [[Jefferson Traywick]], Jefferson County economic development adviser
* [[Lyord Watson]], Baptist minister
* [[Lyord Watson]], Baptist minister
* [[Michael Williams]], singer
* [[Michael Williams]], singer
* [[Jeffrey Wood]], Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division
* [[Mr Blonde Wonder]], [[Birmingham Stallions]] mascot (as "Field General")
* [[Mr Blonde Wonder]], [[Birmingham Stallions]] mascot (as "Field General")


===Awards===
===Awards===
* [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]]: [[Avery Parrish]] and [[Cleveland Eaton]]
* [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]]: [[Dud Bascomb]], [[Paul Bascomb]], [[Cleveland Eaton]], and [[Avery Parrish]]
* [[Mike Davis]] was Alabama's "[[Mr Basketball]]" and an All-American.
* [[Mike Davis]] was Alabama's "[[Mr Basketball]]" and an All-American.
* [[Emory Anthony]] passed the Alabama State Bar.
* [[Emory Anthony]] passed the Alabama State Bar.
* [[Ben McKinnon]] was named Broadcaster of the Year by the [[Alabama Broadcasting Association]]
* [[Ben McKinnon]] was named Broadcaster of the Year by the [[Alabama Broadcasting Association]]
* [[E. O. Wilson]] won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for ''[[On Human Nature]]''.


===Graduations===
===Graduations===
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* [[Buddy Gray]] graduated from [[Samford University]].
* [[Buddy Gray]] graduated from [[Samford University]].
* [[Alan Hunter]] earned his bachelor's degree from Millsaps College.
* [[Alan Hunter]] earned his bachelor's degree from Millsaps College.
* [[Gary Jones]] graduated from [[Bessemer Academy]].
* [[Carl Lewis]] graduated high school.
* [[Carl Lewis]] graduated high school.
* [[Mike Graffeo]] graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law.
* [[Mike Graffeo]] graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law.
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===Deaths===
===Deaths===
* [[March 31]]: [[Ethel Harper]], singer, educator, bandleader and "Aunt Jemima" portrayer.
* [[May 2]]: [[Clifford Hill]], [[Bessemer Police Department|Bessemer Police]] Lieutenant
* [[May 2]]: [[Clifford Hill]], [[Bessemer Police Department|Bessemer Police]] Lieutenant
* [[June 7]]: [[Asa Carter]], segregationist speechwriter and novelist
* [[June 7]]: [[Asa Carter]], segregationist speechwriter and novelist
* [[June 22]]: [[Bonita Carter]]
* [[June 22]]: [[Bonita Carter]]
* [[August 3]]: [[Nelson Brackin]], retailer
* [[August 13]]: [[Ben Gross]], radio critic
* [[August 13]]: [[Ben Gross]], radio critic
* [[September 5]]: [[William Hoover]], insurance executive and [[Hoover]] founder
* [[September 18]]: [[William Spencer]], chairman of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]
* [[October 5]]: [[William Thuss Jr]], occupational physician
* [[December 26]]: [[A. J. Hawkins]], Birmingham city engineer
* [[Luther Coggin]], auto dealer
* [[Luther Coggin]], auto dealer


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===Buildings===
===Buildings===
* [[December 14]]: The [[McAdory Building]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham|National Register of Historic Places]].
* [[Guy M. Tate Building|Jefferson County Department of Health building]] at 1400 [[6th Avenue South]]
* [[Newton DeBardeleben Operations Center]] ([[AmSouth Bank]])
* New building for the [[Lynnwood Church of God]]
* [[Center Point Fire Station No. 4]] in [[Clay]]
* [[Powderly Library]] in [[Wiggins Park]]
* [[The Tower]], [[Drummond Company]] headquarters on [[Beacon Parkway West]]
* Sidewalks and landscaping at the [[Dupuy Administrative Building|Anna Dupuy Elementary School]]
* Sidewalks and landscaping at the [[Dupuy Administrative Building|Anna Dupuy Elementary School]]
* Expansion of the east wing of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]
* Expansion of the east wing of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]
====Demolitions====
* The [[Molton Hotel]] and adjacent [[Retail Block]] was demolished.
* The [[Molton Hotel]] and adjacent [[Retail Block]] was demolished.


====Completed====
====Listings====
* [[Newton DeBardeleben Operations Center]] ([[AmSouth Bank]])
* [[December 14]]: The [[McAdory Building]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham|National Register of Historic Places]].
* New building for the [[Lynnwood Church of God]]
* [[Center Point Fire Station No. 4]] in [[Clay]]
* The [[Powderly Library]] was constructed in [[Wiggins Park]].


==Context==
==Context==

Latest revision as of 14:59, 15 May 2023

1979 was the 108th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

Richard Arrington, Jr became Birmingham's first African-American mayor in 1979

Business

Government

Media

Sports

Individuals

Births

Babec, born in 1979

Awards

Graduations

Deaths

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1979

Works

Books

Buildings

Demolitions

Listings

Context

In 1979 the United States was experiencing an energy crisis. The US established diplomatic relations with China. The Khmer Rouge was overthrown in Cambodia. Ayatollah Khomeini took over Iran after the Shah fled the country. Isreal and Egypt signed a peace treaty. The nuclear plant at Three Mile Island leaked radiation. Malta won its freedom. Margaret Thatcher became prime minister of the United Kingdom. A jetliner crash at O'Hare airport kills 273 people. The Susan B. Anthony dollar was introduced. ESPN debuted. Hurricane Frederic hit Mobile. The USSR invaded Afghanistan. Notable 1979 births include singer Norah Jones, actresses Claire Danes, Rosario Dawson and Kate Hudson, and football players LaDainian Tomlinson, Carson Palmer and Jamal Lewis. Deaths in 1979 included Charles Mingus, Nelson Rockefeller, Sid Vicious, Mr Ed, Mary Pickford, Vivian Vance, Mamie Eisenhower, Peggy Guggenheim and Zeppo Marx. Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize. Top grossing films were Kramer vs Kramer, Rocky II, Alien, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and The Muppet Movie.

1970s
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Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works
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