December 16

December 16 in the history of the Birmingham District:

• 2014: Little Italy's Pies & Pints opened in 5 Points South.
• 2008: Fire heavily damaged the former Bibb County Junior High School in Centreville.
• 2003: Margaret Tutwiler became Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. State Department.
• 2000: Eleven people were killed by the 2000 Tuscaloosa tornado.
• 1989: Circuit Court Judge Robert Vance was killed by a mail bomb.
• 1985: Robert Slaughter was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army Reserve.
• 1944: Labor leader Asa Trammell was wounded in action in Europe during World War II.
• 1907: 57 miners were killed in the 1907 Yolande Mine explosion.
• 1898: President William McKinley visited Tuskegee Institute at the invitation of Booker T. Washington.
• 1864: Major Edmund Rucker was wounded and captured by Union forces at the Battle of Nashville.
• 1847: Reuben Chapman succeeded Joshua L. Martin as Governor of Alabama.

Births

• 1987: 2011 Birmingham Barons pitcher Hector Santiago was born in Newark, New Jersey.
• 1940: Alabama legislator John Rogers was born.
• 1936: Auburn/NFL center Jackie Burkett was born in Thorsby.
• 1921: Birmingham Black Barons star Frank Evans was born in Linden, Marengo County.
• 1899: Artist and civic activist Eleanor Bridges was born in Columbus, Georgia.
• 1864: Buffalo Rock founder Sid Lee was born in Monroe County, Mississippi.

Deaths

• 2005: Grocer J. D. Hill, Jr died.
• 2000: Eleven people were killed by the 2000 Tuscaloosa tornado.
• 1996: Attorney and former Birmingham City Council member Arthur Shores died.
• 1989: Circuit Court Judge Robert Vance was killed by a mail bomb.
• 1907: 57 miners were killed in the 1907 Yolande Mine explosion.

Sports

• 1999: Pelham Prowlers won 7-5 at Jacksonville Hammerheads.