2008

2008 is the 137th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• January 1: Mayor Larry Langford's Birmingham Economic and Community Revitalization Ordinance sales tax and business license fees increase went into effect.
• January 1: The Birmingham logo was unveiled.
• January 2: The Power of God Deliverance Ministry church building was destroyed by fire.
• January 6: The rear wall of the S. J. Bennett Professional Building collapsed.
• January 11: Groundbreaking was held for Seven Springs Ecoscape.
• January 15: V... The Statue was introduced.
• January 18: 2008 State of the Region luncheon
• January 25: The Bush Hills sinkhole appeared.
• February 5: A Jefferson County Commission special election was held.
• February 16: The Hoover Crescent Islamic Center opened.
• March 14-16: OmegaCon
• May 10: 7th annual Buck Creek Festival

Business

• January: The former HealthSouth corporate headquarters and incomplete HealthSouth digital hospital was sold to the Daniel Corporation for $43.5 million.
• January: Nightclub The Station closed.
• January 25: Nightclub Zen opened.
• February: Book store and publisher GreencupBooks opened.
• February: The Harbert family sold Regions-Harbert Plaza.
• February 9: Red Mountain Market opened.

People & animals

Deaths

• January 4: Tom Jernigan, founder and CEO of the Marathon Corporation
• January 4: Doc Soul Stirrer, entertainer and newspaper columnist
• January 6: Geoff Stone, police officer
• January 8: Ace Trammell, labor activist
• January 11: Stead Baxendale, real estate broker
• January 13: Bik Lonnie, music and video producer
• January 19: Bronner Burgess, son of Rick Burgess
• February 4: Glynn West, business manager
• February 15: Morris Mayer, marketing professor
• February 16: Lee McGriff, insurance executive and former Mayor of Mountain Brook
• February 16: Reverend James Orange
• February 22: Don Cornutt, educator and musician
• February 27: Bishop Ruby Kile
• March 4: Jack Voorhies, voice actor and announcer
• March 10: Dennis Irwin, jazz musician
• March 15: Henry Aizenman, Holocaust survivor
• March 15: Sam Pointer, Jr, retired federal judge
• March 22: Joe Joseph, developer
• March 25: Victor Ellis, newspaper editor
• March 28: Anne Woodward, age 99
• March 31: Alfonzo Scales, minister and local SCLC leader
• April 7: Bobby Hoppe, former Auburn football player
• April 10: Helen Davis, the first female Architect licensed in Alabama
• April 11: Babec, Birmingham Zoo gorilla
• April 12: Joseph Campbell, former Birmingham News editor
• April 15: Billy Martin, advertising executive
• April 20: Charles Todel, longtime minister in Gate City
• May 3: C. Paul Perry, physician
• May 13: Randy Mixon, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Captain
• May 13: Al O'Brien, painter
• May 14: Brandee Skinner
• May 27: Willie Scoggins, high school basketball coach
• June 2: Maryanne Blake

See also List of Birmingham homicides in 2008 and List of Jefferson County homicides in 2008

Promotions and retirements

• June 30: Bill Cleveland replaced the retiring Jodi Newton as superintendent of Homewood City Schools.
• Dicky Barlow became assistant superintendent of Mountain Brook Schools.
• Vic Wilson replaced Dicky Barlow as principal of Mountain Brook High School.
• Kevin Maddox replaced Vic Wilson as principal of Homewood High School.
• Ben Hudson replaced the retiring Garry Rickard as principal of Mountain Brook Junior High School.

Works

• Blaze statue

Buildings

• January: Heritage Hall
• January: Covenant Presbyterian Church addition
• April: 2600 Highland Avenue (expected completion)
• Fall: Hewitt-Trussville High School (expected completion)
• Fall: Montevallo National Cemetery (expected opening)
• New Trussville Community Center (expected completion)

Books

• Birmingham, 35 Miles, a novel by James Braziel

See Also

• 2008 Birmingham Barons
• 2008 City Stages
• 2008 Iron Bowl
• 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament
• 2008 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival
• 2008 UAB Blazers football

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