March 2

March 2 in the history of the Birmingham District:

• 2009: Herzing College (formerly Herzing Institute) became Herzing University.
• 2009: Northport's Steamers was converted into a Wintzell's Oyster House.
• 1970: The Daniel Building opened its doors.
• 1964: Central Bank and Trust opened for business.
• 1963: Patsy Cline, Tex Ritter and Jerry Lee Lewis performed a fund-raiser at Municipal Auditorium for the widow of Kansas City disc jockey Jack Call. (Cline died in a plane crash three days later.)
• 1942: A snowfall dropped 2.5 inches on Birmingham.
• 1920: Birmingham businessman Frank Perdue chaired the organizational meeting for the Negro Southern League in Atlanta, Georgia.
• 1915: A snowfall dropped 2.8 inches on Birmingham.
• 1901: The trustees of the Alabama Department of Archives and History had their first meeting, making Tom Owen director.
• 1901: The Alabama State Legislature passed a local prohibition law forbidding alcohol sales within a two mile radius of Owenton College.
• 1898: Democratic Party leader William Jennings Bryan delivered a speech at O'Brien's Opera House.
• 1819: The United States Congress passed an act authorizing the Alabama Territory to form a state constitution and to be admitted to the United States.

Gene Stallings, born March 2, 1935

Births

• 1998: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was born in 'Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
• 1973: Museum curator Graham Boettcher was born in Bellingham, Washington.
• 1964: Conductor Justin Brown was born in London.
• 1962: Football kicker Al Del Greco was born in Rhode Island.
• 1953: Rodger Smitherman was born in Montgomery.
• 1935: Football coach Gene Stallings was born in Paris, Texas.
• 1933: Miss Alabama 1954 Marilyn Tate was born in Haleyville, Winston County.
• 1919: Educator Alpha Robertson was born in Birmingham.

Deaths

• 2011: CME Bishop Wallace Lockett died on a flight from Amsterdam.
• 2011: Former football coach Dude Hennessey died in Tuscaloosa.
• 2010: Retired educator Ernest Palmore died.
• 2003: Musician Hank Ballard died in Los Angeles.
• 2001: Columnist and publisher Dennis Washburn died.
• 1984: Sculptor Geneva Mercer died in Demopolis.
• 1963: Physician Charles Carraway died.