1994
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1994 was the 123rd year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.
Events
- March 27: A Palm Sunday tornado injured 53 people and damaged businesses along U. S. Highway 31 in Shelby County.
- October 18: Groundbreaking for the new Shades Valley High School in Irondale took place.
- The graves of Ellard Cemetery were moved to Trussville due to the expansion of the North-South runway at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
- Jamie, a Western lowland gorilla, came to the Birmingham Zoo from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Cleveland Hammonds was forced out as Birmingham City Schools superintendent.
- The Church of the Reconciler moved to a building on 18th Street North.
- Magic City Harvest was founded.
- Plans for a 300-acre "Ecoplex" near Liberty Park to replace the Birmingham Zoo were shelved for lack of public funding.
Business
- Abanks Mortuary opened.
- WBRC 6 was sold to New World Inc.
- Watkins Book Shop closed.
- Lazlo's Pizza opened in Lakeview.
- The Garage Café opened on 10th Terrace South.
- Jeff and Patti Pierce opened a franchised Big Sky Bread Company bakery in Mountain Brook Village.
- Steiner Bank was acquired by Highland Bank.
- Video Xpress was acquired by Movie Gallery.
Media
- Courteney Cox starred in the motion picture Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and began her role as Monica on the television series Friends.
- Cobb, filmed at Rickwood Field.
Sports
- Mike Davis returned to Alabama as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team.
- Vestavia Hills Rebels won the first of seven straight state baseball titles under coach Sammy Dunn.
- Mark's Outdoor Sports hosted the 1st annual Lay Lake Open bass tournament at Paradise Point Marina on Lay Lake.
Works
Art
- Lonnie Holley, "Obstacles Before the Goal", showing at High Museeum of Art, Atlanta.
Books
- Best American Short Stories, Tobias Wolff, editor.
- Don't Look Back : Satchel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball, by Mark Ribowsky.
- In Pharaoh's Army, a memoir about Tobias Wolff's experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War.
- Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration, by E. O. Wilson.
- Naturalist, by E. O. Wilson.
- The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories, Tobias Wolff, editor.
Buildings
- Brook Highland Cinema
- Children's Park Place
- Hoover High School
- Southside Station
- Expansion of Cobb Festival 12 to 18 screens
Music
- The 6th annual City Stages music festival was held downtown.
- Little Red Rocket was formed.
- Document records released a compilation of Walter Roland's 1930s recordings.
Individuals
- Actor Kate Jackson underwent open heart surgery.
- Methodist minister Willie Spencer retired after 36 years of service.
- Mac Underwood was named City of Birmingham's Director of the Finance Department.
- Coach Iola Baylor retired after 30 years in teaching.
- Buck Brock left Compass Bank to head the Express Oil Development Company.
- Paul Zahl succeeded Larry Gipson as Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent.
Births
- January 6: Jameis Winston, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback
- August 29: Moti, white tiger
- Jessi, police dog
- Sugar, female mute swan
- Showdown, Birmingham Police Mounted Patrol horse
Awards
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame inducted Cholly Atkins, Mary Ogletree, and Willie Ruff.
- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inducted Paul Crane, Luman Harris, Kirk Newell, Lloyd Nix, Jerry Pate, and Dwight Stephenson.
- Heather Whitestone won the Miss Alabama pageant.
- Miss Shelby County: Bethany Pearson Ivey
- Associated Press "Best Anchor in Alabama": Janet Hall
Graduations
- Lawrence Conaway earned his MBA from UAB.
- Bernard Kincaid earned his J.D. from the Birmingham School of Law.
- Walter Maddox earned his bachelor's in political science from UAB.
Deaths
- February 7: Herman Frank Cash, suspect in the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church
- February 11: Neil Bonnett, while practicing for the Daytona 500
- April 10: Southern Company CEO Alvin Vogtle
- May 3: Short story writer Mary Elizabeth Counselman
- June 26: Joseph Durick, Civil Rights activist
- July 3: Petey Sarron, boxer
- July 13: Charlie Fonville, attorney and former shotputter
- September 15: Haywood Henry, jazz saxophonist
- October 16: Five people were shot to death by Stephen Pilley and Anthony Apicella during a robbery of the Changing Times Lounge.
- November 23: Bettie Crutcher, pediatric nurse and bookstore clerk
See also
Context
| 1990s |
| << 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 >> |
| Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works |