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==Events== | ==Events== | ||
* [[January 2]]: The ''[[USS Birmingham (CL-62)]]'' was decommissioned. | |||
* [[June 26]]: The [[1947 Dairy Month Parade]] was held in [[downtown Birmingham]]. | * [[June 26]]: The [[1947 Dairy Month Parade]] was held in [[downtown Birmingham]]. | ||
* The [[ | * [[September 9]]: The [[Birmingham City Commission]] purchased right-of-way in front of [[Woodlawn Methodist Church]] for widening of [[1st Avenue North]]. | ||
* [[Arthur Shores]] filed the first legal challenge to Birmingham's [[segregation ordinances|segregated zoning laws]] on behalf of [[Samuel Mathews]]. | |||
* [[August 18]]: The home of [[Samuel Mathews]] in [[North Smithfield]] was targeted by a [[List of racially-motivated bombings|racially-motivated bombing]]. | |||
* [[November 11]]: Birmingham put on the nation's first [[Veterans Day]] celebration. | |||
* The North American Numbering Plan went into effect, giving Alabama the [[Area code 205|205 area code]]. | * The North American Numbering Plan went into effect, giving Alabama the [[Area code 205|205 area code]]. | ||
* The [[Birmingham Children's Theatre]] was founded. | * The [[Birmingham Children's Theatre]] was founded. | ||
* [[ | * The [[City of Birmingham]] acquired the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]] property. | ||
* [[ | * The [[Federated Women's Club]] purchased the former [[Clubhouse on Highland|W. S. Brown residence]] on [[Highland Avenue]]. | ||
* [[ | * Birmingham won a Jaycees' National Safety Award for its "[[Vulcan's torch|Light for Life]]" road safety beacon (Vulcan's neon torch). | ||
* [[James Sulzby Jr]] founded the [[Alabama Historical Association]]. | |||
* The American Heritage Foundation canceled the "[[American Freedom Train#1940s Freedom Train|Freedom Train]]"'s planned visit to Birmingham due to local [[segregation ordinances]]. | |||
* [[Epp Sykes]] donated the copyright to his song, "[[Yea Alabama!]]" to the [[University of Alabama]]. | |||
* The [[Robert R. Meyer Foundation]] was established. | |||
* The [[Birmingham Audubon Society|Birmingham Bird Club]] became the [[Birmingham Audubon Society|Birmingham Branch of the National Audubon Society]]. | |||
* The [[Southern Negro Youth Congress]] was labeled as "subversive" by U.S. Attorney General Thomas C. Clark. | |||
===Business=== | ===Business=== | ||
* The [[Birmingham Electric Company]] began using | * [[January 2]]: "[[The Club]]" was incorporated. | ||
* The [[Alhambra Restaurant]] opened on [[5th Avenue North]]. | |||
* The [[Birmingham Electric Company]] began using 47 new PCC-type streetcars. | |||
* [[Busch's Jewelers]] purchased [[Brackin's]]. | |||
* [[Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Company]] began manufacturing slag wool at its [[North Birmingham Furnaces]]. | |||
* [[Citizens Trust Bank]] joined the Federal Reserve. | |||
* [[La Paree]] was incorporated. | |||
* [[Charles Byrd]] purchased [[George Ward]]'s former [[Vestavia (estate)|Vestavia]] estate and converted it into a restaurant. | |||
* [[Emmett Ware]] purchased the 270-acre [[William Reed residence|Spring Lake Farms]] from [[Robert Jemison Jr]] and developed the [[Twin Lakes]] subdivision around it. | |||
* The [[St Louis–San Francisco Railway]] acquired the assets of the [[Muscle Shoals, Birmingham & Pensacola Railroad]]. | |||
* [[Alabama Fuel & Iron]] purchased the [[Swann & Co. Building]] for its headquarters offices. | |||
* The [[Shades Mountain Country Club]] lost its state liquor license. | |||
====Establishments==== | ====Establishments==== | ||
[[File:Vestavia Roman Rooms.jpg|right|thumb|125px|The "Roman Rooms" restaurant at George Ward's former Vestavia estate opened in 1947.]] | |||
* [[Alabama Historical Association]] was founded. | |||
* [[Belcher Evans Millwork]] was founded. | * [[Belcher Evans Millwork]] was founded. | ||
* [[Cobb Theatres]] was founded. | * [[Cobb Theatres]] was founded. | ||
* The [[College Theatre]] opened in [[East Lake]]. | * The [[College Theatre]] opened in [[East Lake]]. | ||
* [[Newman Waters]] opened the [[Downtown Club]]. | * [[Newman Waters]] opened the [[Downtown Club]]. | ||
* The [[Fox Theater]] in [[Brighton]] opened. | |||
* [[Sam Raine]] opened the [[Lincoln Theatre]] in [[Bessemer]]. | |||
* [[Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood]] was founded. | * [[Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood]] was founded. | ||
* [[Gus's Hot Dogs]] opened on [[4th Avenue North]]. | * [[Gus's Hot Dogs]] opened on [[4th Avenue North]]. | ||
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* [[Raymond's Five Points Market]] opened. | * [[Raymond's Five Points Market]] opened. | ||
* [[Roy Lumber]] opened in [[Bessemer]]. | * [[Roy Lumber]] opened in [[Bessemer]]. | ||
* [[Spivey Hobby, Toys & Gifts]] opened on [[Tuscaloosa Avenue]] | |||
* The [[Douglas Clinic]] opened in the former [[Frank Lathrop residence]] on [[14th Avenue South]]. | |||
===Government=== | |||
* [[January 20]]: [[Jim Folsom Sr]] succeeded [[Chauncey Sparks]] as [[Governor of Alabama]]. | |||
* January 20: [[James Inzer]] succeeded [[Leven Ellis]] as [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama]]. | |||
* May: Residents of [[Homewood]] and [[Mountain Brook]] approved a 5-mill property tax to support development of [[Shades Valley High School]]. | |||
* December: The [[Homewood City Council]] rezoned the site of the future [[Vulcan Park Condominiums|Valley View Apartments]]. | |||
* [[Fultondale]] was incorporated. | |||
* [[Mulga]] was incorporated. | |||
* [[Trussville]] was incorporated. | |||
* The [[Alabama State Fair Authority]] was established by the [[City of Birmingham]] as a successor to the [[Alabama State Fair & Exhibit Association]]. | |||
* [[Homewood]] deeded land on [[Shades Creek Parkway]] to the [[Armory Commission of Alabama]] for a [[Homewood National Guard Armory]]. | |||
* The [[Jefferson County Planning Commission]] was established. | |||
===Education=== | ===Education=== | ||
* [[John Carroll Catholic High School]] opened. | * [[John Carroll Catholic High School]] opened. | ||
* [[Wenonah Elementary School]] opened. | * [[Wenonah Elementary School]] opened. | ||
* [[Southeastern Bible College]] acquired the former [[Frank Nelson residence]] on [[Pawnee Avenue]]. | |||
* The [[Alabama Supreme Court]]'s ruling on the estate of [[Harvey Woodward]] allowed planning for the [[Indian Springs School]] to move forward. | |||
===Media=== | ===Media=== | ||
* [[January 1]]: [[WAFM-FM]] went on the air. | |||
* [[WVOK-AM]] went on the air. | * [[WVOK-AM]] went on the air. | ||
===Religion=== | ===Religion=== | ||
* [[June 21]]: [[Joseph Adams]] was appointed pastor of [[Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church]]. | |||
* [[Garywood Assembly of God]] was founded as [[Garywood Assembly of God|El Bethel Assembly of God]]. | * [[Garywood Assembly of God]] was founded as [[Garywood Assembly of God|El Bethel Assembly of God]]. | ||
* [[Trinity United Methodist Church (Edgewood)|Trinity United Methodist Church]] began holding services in an army chapel building bought as surplus from [[Camp Sibert]] near [[Gadsden]]. | * [[Trinity United Methodist Church (Edgewood)|Trinity United Methodist Church]] began holding services in an army chapel building bought as surplus from [[Camp Sibert]] near [[Gadsden]]. | ||
* [[Edward Gardner]] became pastor of [[Mount Olive Baptist Church, Kingston]]. | |||
* [[Al Mathes]] became pastor of [[South Highland Presbyterian Church]]. | |||
* [[William Vines]] succeeded [[J. Ivey Edwards]] as pastor of [[Dawson Family of Faith|Dawson Memorial Baptist Church]]. | |||
* [[West End Hills Missionary Baptist Church]] purchased the site for their present church building on [[19th Place Southwest]]. | |||
===Sports=== | ===Sports=== | ||
* [[January 1]]: Tennessee State defeated Louisville Municipal College 32-0 in the [[Vulcan Bowl#1946 season|1947 Vulcan Bowl]]. | |||
* [[January 28]]: [[Izzy Jannazzo]] lost his last boxing match to Steve Belloise. | |||
* The [[Birmingham Skyhawks]] began play in the Professional Basketball League of America | |||
* The [[Birmingham Vulcans (SPBL)|Birmingham Vulcans]] began play in the Southern Professional Basketball League | |||
* The [[Bessemer Whiz Kids]] began play in the Southern Professional Basketball League | |||
* [[Red Drew]] succeeded [[Frank W. Thomas]] as coach of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football team]]. | |||
* [[Coke McKenzie]] caught a world record [[bluegill]] at [[Ketona Lakes]]. | |||
==Individuals== | ==Individuals== | ||
* [[September 1]]: [[John Caldwell]] succeeded [[Arthur Harman]] as [[President of the University of Montevallo]]. | |||
* [[October 2]]: [[Stanleigh Malotte]] returned to the [[Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ]] at the [[Alabama Theatre]]. | |||
* [[Henry Badham Jr]] was made a Brigadier General and given command of the [[514th Troop Carrier Wing]] and the [[319th Bombardment Wing]] at [[Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport|Birmingham Municipal Airport]]. | |||
* [[Laurie C. Battle]] succeeded [[Luther Patrick]] as Representative of the [[9th Congressional District of Alabama]]. | |||
* [[Harvie Branscomb]] was appointed chair of the first United States Advisory Commission for Education Exchange. | |||
* [[Orville Schanbacher]] succeeded [[Joseph Loveman]] as president of [[Loveman's]]. | |||
* [[Roy Downs]] became president of [[Central State Bank of Calera]]. | |||
* [[John Gallalee]] succeeded [[Raymond Paty]] as [[List of University of Alabama presidents|President of the University of Alabama]]. | |||
* [[Robert Johnson]] succeeded [[W. B. Johnson]] as principal of [[Parker High School]]. | |||
* [[Dorothy Love Coates|Dorothy Love]] left the [[Gospel Harmonettes]]. | |||
* [[Willie Ruff]] and [[Dwike Mitchell]] formed the [[Mitchell-Ruff Duo]]. | |||
* [[Hugh Thomas]] became dean of the [[Birmingham Conservatory of Music]]. | |||
* Texas A&M Aggies football coach [[Homer Norton]] was fired. | |||
* [[Hank Crisp]] began coaching the Tulane Green Wave football team. | |||
* [[Grady Price]] succeeded [[Hayes Parnell]] as [[Mayor of Leeds]]. | |||
* [[W. C. Patton]] became president of the [[Alabama NAACP]]. | |||
* [[G. B. Baggett]] succeeded [[Powell Hamner]] as [[Walker County Sheriff]]. | |||
===Births=== | ===Births=== | ||
[[File:Emmylou Harris-Profile.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Emmylou Harris]] | [[File:Emmylou Harris-Profile.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Emmylou Harris was born in 1947]] | ||
* [[January 4]]: [[Tim Rooney]] actor / voice actor | * [[January 4]]: [[Tim Rooney]] actor / voice actor | ||
* [[February 1]]: [[Ira Chaffin]], sculptor and hotel keeper | * [[February 1]]: [[Ira Chaffin]], sculptor and hotel keeper | ||
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* [[February 4]]: [[Wallace Potts]], film director / screenwriter / archivist. | * [[February 4]]: [[Wallace Potts]], film director / screenwriter / archivist. | ||
* [[February 11]]: [[Roy Moore]], [[Alabama Supreme Court]] chief justice | * [[February 11]]: [[Roy Moore]], [[Alabama Supreme Court]] chief justice | ||
* [[February 22]]: [[Richard North Patterson]], attorney | * [[February 22]]: [[Richard North Patterson]], attorney and novelist | ||
* February 22: [[De Martenson]], attorney | |||
* [[February 23]]: [[George Curry]], newspaper columnist | * [[February 23]]: [[George Curry]], newspaper columnist | ||
* [[March 1]]: [[Tom Hinson]], accountant / embezzler | * [[March 1]]: [[Tom Hinson]], accountant / embezzler | ||
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* [[July 23]]: [[John Katopodis]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | * [[July 23]]: [[John Katopodis]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | ||
* [[August 13]]: [[Dowd Ritter]], CEO of [[Regions Bank]] | * [[August 13]]: [[Dowd Ritter]], CEO of [[Regions Bank]] | ||
* [[September 27]]: [[Joe Moudry]], technologist and fanzine publisher | |||
* [[October 26]]: [[Wade Black]], director of the [[Birmingham Pledge Foundation]] | * [[October 26]]: [[Wade Black]], director of the [[Birmingham Pledge Foundation]] | ||
* [[November 18]]: [[Saleh Bajalieh|Saleh "Sol" Bajalieh]], restaurateur | * [[November 18]]: [[Saleh Bajalieh|Saleh "Sol" Bajalieh]], restaurateur | ||
* [[December 7]]: [[Garry Unger]] professional hockey player / coach | * [[December 7]]: [[Garry Unger]] professional hockey player / coach | ||
* [[December 28]]: [[Spencer Bachus]], former U.S. Representative | * [[December 28]]: [[Spencer Bachus]], former U.S. Representative | ||
* [[Bunky Anderson]], drummer and music promoter | |||
* [[Leroy Bandy]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | * [[Leroy Bandy]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | ||
* [[Bill Billits], [[Graysville City Council]] member | * [[Bill Billits]], [[Graysville City Council]] member | ||
* [[Sandra Brown]], [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member | * [[Sandra Brown]], [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member | ||
* [[Tom Cosby]], development director | * [[Tom Cosby]], development director | ||
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* [[Scott Douglas]], director of [[Greater Birmingham Ministries]] | * [[Scott Douglas]], director of [[Greater Birmingham Ministries]] | ||
* [[Carolyn Featheringill]], attorney and law professor | * [[Carolyn Featheringill]], attorney and law professor | ||
* [[Robert Haslam]], bartender | |||
* [[Elias Hendricks]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | * [[Elias Hendricks]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | ||
* [[Rob Henrikson]], CEO of MetLife | * [[Rob Henrikson]], CEO of MetLife | ||
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* [[Mike Rasmussen]], attorney | * [[Mike Rasmussen]], attorney | ||
* [[Johnny Robinson]], victim of racial violence | * [[Johnny Robinson]], victim of racial violence | ||
* [[Fred Shuttlesworth Jr]] | |||
* [[Susie (elephant)|Susie]], [[Birmingham Zoo]] elephant | * [[Susie (elephant)|Susie]], [[Birmingham Zoo]] elephant | ||
* [[Gwen Sykes]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | * [[Gwen Sykes]], [[Birmingham City Council]] member | ||
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===Graduations=== | ===Graduations=== | ||
* [[Oscar Adams Jr]] earned his law degree at Howard University. | |||
* [[Bill Bolen]] graduated from Albert G. Parish High School. | |||
* [[Joseph Braswell]] graduated from [[Birmingham-Southern College]]. | |||
* [[Eric Embry]] earned his degree at the [[University of Alabama School of Law]]. | |||
* [[Harry U. Gilmer]] completed a degree in chemical engineering at the [[Auburn University|Alabama Polytechnic Institute]]. | |||
* [[Leven Hazlegrove]] completed a chemistry degree at [[Howard College]]. | |||
* [[Jim Hillhouse]] graduated from [[Marion Military Institute]]. | |||
* [[Glenn Ireland II]] graduated from the University of Virginia. | |||
* [[Autherine Lucy]] graduated from Linden Academy in Marengo County. | |||
* [[Jack Nelson]] graduated from Notre Dame High School in Biloxi, Mississippi. | |||
* [[William Powell]] graduated from [[Phillips High School]]. | |||
* [[Frank Samford Jr]] graduated from the [[University of Alabama]]. | |||
* [[Ezra Sims]] completed a bachelor of arts at [[Birmingham-Southern College]]. | |||
* [[Martha Sykes]] graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College. | |||
* [[Dewey White]] completed his medical degree at the University of Virginia. | |||
===Marriages=== | ===Marriages=== | ||
* [[June 10]]: Metropolitan Opera soprano [[Irene Jordan]] married violinist Arnold Caplan. | |||
* [[August 8]]: [[Rosamond McDuff]] married Mary Evelyn Morgan at the [[First Pentecostal Holiness Church]] in [[North Birmingham]]. | |||
* [[October 12]]: [[Satchel Paige]] married Lahoma Brown in Hays, Kansas. | |||
* [[Virginia Pounds Brown|Virginia Pounds]] married [[William Bestor Brown]]. | |||
* [[Robert Guillot]] married Patty Shirley. | |||
* [[John Patterson]] married Mary Jo McGowin. | |||
* [[Ed Jones]] married June McGowen. | |||
* [[Margaret Livingston|Margaret Gresham]] married [[James Livingston]]. | |||
===Awards=== | ===Awards=== | ||
* [[Erskine Hawkins]] was given an honorary doctorate by [[Alabama State University]]. | |||
* [[John Rhoden]] was awarded a Rosenwald Fellowship for sculpture at Columbia University. | |||
* [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Peggy Elder]] | |||
===Retirements=== | |||
* [[Carlton Molesworth]] retired from baseball. | |||
===Deaths=== | ===Deaths=== | ||
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* [[May 16]]: [[Robert Aland]], founder of [[New Ideal]] department store | * [[May 16]]: [[Robert Aland]], founder of [[New Ideal]] department store | ||
* [[July 15]]: [[Archibald Carmichael]], U.S. Representative | * [[July 15]]: [[Archibald Carmichael]], U.S. Representative | ||
* [[October 30]]: [[Isaac Ullman]], magazine publisher | |||
* [[October 31]]: [[Robert Meyer]], hotel owner | * [[October 31]]: [[Robert Meyer]], hotel owner | ||
* [[Ella Graham]] | |||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
* ''[[Annals of the Southside Baptist Church]]'' by [[James Sulzby Jr]] | |||
* [[Colonial Stores]] introduced their "rooster" logo. | |||
===Buildings=== | ===Buildings=== | ||
* [[1 Wood Manor]] in [[Tuscaloosa]] | |||
* [[Ans-O-Phone|Ans-O-Phone building]] on [[6th Avenue North]] | * [[Ans-O-Phone|Ans-O-Phone building]] on [[6th Avenue North]] | ||
* [[John Carroll Catholic High School]] | |||
* [[College Theatre]] in [[East Lake]] | * [[College Theatre]] in [[East Lake]] | ||
* [[Crestline Heights Shopping Center]] in [[Crestline Village]] | * [[Crestline Heights Shopping Center]] in [[Crestline Village]] | ||
* [[Edgewood Elementary School]] auditorium | * [[Edgewood Elementary School]] auditorium | ||
* [[Elmore's|Elmore's]] on [[18th Street South (Homewood)|18th Street South]] in [[Homewood]] | |||
* [[Exchange Security Bank of Birmingham|Exchange Bank Building]] on [[20th Street South]] | * [[Exchange Security Bank of Birmingham|Exchange Bank Building]] on [[20th Street South]] | ||
* [[Five Points Market shopping center]] | |||
* [[Home Baking Company]] renovations | * [[Home Baking Company]] renovations | ||
* [[ | * [[Parham Apothecary Building]] in [[Fairfield]] | ||
* [[Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory]] on [[6th Avenue North]] | |||
* [[South Elyton Baptist Church]] | |||
* [[Legion Field]] south end zone grandstands | |||
* [[Wenonah Elementary School]] | * [[Wenonah Elementary School]] | ||
* [[WJLD building]] on [[Bessemer Super Highway]] | * [[WJLD building]] on [[Bessemer Super Highway]] | ||
* [[3rd Avenue Farmers Market]] remodeling | |||
* More than 50 homes at [[Central Park Gardens]] developed by [[Jim Wood Jr]] | |||
===Music=== | ===Music=== | ||
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===Film, Radio and TV=== | ===Film, Radio and TV=== | ||
* Walter Lantz Productions made a series of [[Reddy Kilowatt]] cartoon shorts. | |||
==Context== | ==Context== |
Latest revision as of 10:02, 27 May 2024
1947 was the 76th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.
Events
- January 2: The USS Birmingham (CL-62) was decommissioned.
- June 26: The 1947 Dairy Month Parade was held in downtown Birmingham.
- September 9: The Birmingham City Commission purchased right-of-way in front of Woodlawn Methodist Church for widening of 1st Avenue North.
- Arthur Shores filed the first legal challenge to Birmingham's segregated zoning laws on behalf of Samuel Mathews.
- August 18: The home of Samuel Mathews in North Smithfield was targeted by a racially-motivated bombing.
- November 11: Birmingham put on the nation's first Veterans Day celebration.
- The North American Numbering Plan went into effect, giving Alabama the 205 area code.
- The Birmingham Children's Theatre was founded.
- The City of Birmingham acquired the Alabama State Fairgrounds property.
- The Federated Women's Club purchased the former W. S. Brown residence on Highland Avenue.
- Birmingham won a Jaycees' National Safety Award for its "Light for Life" road safety beacon (Vulcan's neon torch).
- James Sulzby Jr founded the Alabama Historical Association.
- The American Heritage Foundation canceled the "Freedom Train"'s planned visit to Birmingham due to local segregation ordinances.
- Epp Sykes donated the copyright to his song, "Yea Alabama!" to the University of Alabama.
- The Robert R. Meyer Foundation was established.
- The Birmingham Bird Club became the Birmingham Branch of the National Audubon Society.
- The Southern Negro Youth Congress was labeled as "subversive" by U.S. Attorney General Thomas C. Clark.
Business
- January 2: "The Club" was incorporated.
- The Alhambra Restaurant opened on 5th Avenue North.
- The Birmingham Electric Company began using 47 new PCC-type streetcars.
- Busch's Jewelers purchased Brackin's.
- Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Company began manufacturing slag wool at its North Birmingham Furnaces.
- Citizens Trust Bank joined the Federal Reserve.
- La Paree was incorporated.
- Charles Byrd purchased George Ward's former Vestavia estate and converted it into a restaurant.
- Emmett Ware purchased the 270-acre Spring Lake Farms from Robert Jemison Jr and developed the Twin Lakes subdivision around it.
- The St Louis–San Francisco Railway acquired the assets of the Muscle Shoals, Birmingham & Pensacola Railroad.
- Alabama Fuel & Iron purchased the Swann & Co. Building for its headquarters offices.
- The Shades Mountain Country Club lost its state liquor license.
Establishments
- Alabama Historical Association was founded.
- Belcher Evans Millwork was founded.
- Cobb Theatres was founded.
- The College Theatre opened in East Lake.
- Newman Waters opened the Downtown Club.
- The Fox Theater in Brighton opened.
- Sam Raine opened the Lincoln Theatre in Bessemer.
- Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood was founded.
- Gus's Hot Dogs opened on 4th Avenue North.
- Induron Protective Coatings was founded.
- Raymond's Five Points Market opened.
- Roy Lumber opened in Bessemer.
- Spivey Hobby, Toys & Gifts opened on Tuscaloosa Avenue
- The Douglas Clinic opened in the former Frank Lathrop residence on 14th Avenue South.
Government
- January 20: Jim Folsom Sr succeeded Chauncey Sparks as Governor of Alabama.
- January 20: James Inzer succeeded Leven Ellis as Lieutenant Governor of Alabama.
- May: Residents of Homewood and Mountain Brook approved a 5-mill property tax to support development of Shades Valley High School.
- December: The Homewood City Council rezoned the site of the future Valley View Apartments.
- Fultondale was incorporated.
- Mulga was incorporated.
- Trussville was incorporated.
- The Alabama State Fair Authority was established by the City of Birmingham as a successor to the Alabama State Fair & Exhibit Association.
- Homewood deeded land on Shades Creek Parkway to the Armory Commission of Alabama for a Homewood National Guard Armory.
- The Jefferson County Planning Commission was established.
Education
- John Carroll Catholic High School opened.
- Wenonah Elementary School opened.
- Southeastern Bible College acquired the former Frank Nelson residence on Pawnee Avenue.
- The Alabama Supreme Court's ruling on the estate of Harvey Woodward allowed planning for the Indian Springs School to move forward.
Media
Religion
- June 21: Joseph Adams was appointed pastor of Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church.
- Garywood Assembly of God was founded as El Bethel Assembly of God.
- Trinity United Methodist Church began holding services in an army chapel building bought as surplus from Camp Sibert near Gadsden.
- Edward Gardner became pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church, Kingston.
- Al Mathes became pastor of South Highland Presbyterian Church.
- William Vines succeeded J. Ivey Edwards as pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.
- West End Hills Missionary Baptist Church purchased the site for their present church building on 19th Place Southwest.
Sports
- January 1: Tennessee State defeated Louisville Municipal College 32-0 in the 1947 Vulcan Bowl.
- January 28: Izzy Jannazzo lost his last boxing match to Steve Belloise.
- The Birmingham Skyhawks began play in the Professional Basketball League of America
- The Birmingham Vulcans began play in the Southern Professional Basketball League
- The Bessemer Whiz Kids began play in the Southern Professional Basketball League
- Red Drew succeeded Frank W. Thomas as coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
- Coke McKenzie caught a world record bluegill at Ketona Lakes.
Individuals
- September 1: John Caldwell succeeded Arthur Harman as President of the University of Montevallo.
- October 2: Stanleigh Malotte returned to the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ at the Alabama Theatre.
- Henry Badham Jr was made a Brigadier General and given command of the 514th Troop Carrier Wing and the 319th Bombardment Wing at Birmingham Municipal Airport.
- Laurie C. Battle succeeded Luther Patrick as Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Alabama.
- Harvie Branscomb was appointed chair of the first United States Advisory Commission for Education Exchange.
- Orville Schanbacher succeeded Joseph Loveman as president of Loveman's.
- Roy Downs became president of Central State Bank of Calera.
- John Gallalee succeeded Raymond Paty as President of the University of Alabama.
- Robert Johnson succeeded W. B. Johnson as principal of Parker High School.
- Dorothy Love left the Gospel Harmonettes.
- Willie Ruff and Dwike Mitchell formed the Mitchell-Ruff Duo.
- Hugh Thomas became dean of the Birmingham Conservatory of Music.
- Texas A&M Aggies football coach Homer Norton was fired.
- Hank Crisp began coaching the Tulane Green Wave football team.
- Grady Price succeeded Hayes Parnell as Mayor of Leeds.
- W. C. Patton became president of the Alabama NAACP.
- G. B. Baggett succeeded Powell Hamner as Walker County Sheriff.
Births
- January 4: Tim Rooney actor / voice actor
- February 1: Ira Chaffin, sculptor and hotel keeper
- February 2: Henry Lovoy, vocalist
- February 4: Wallace Potts, film director / screenwriter / archivist.
- February 11: Roy Moore, Alabama Supreme Court chief justice
- February 22: Richard North Patterson, attorney and novelist
- February 22: De Martenson, attorney
- February 23: George Curry, newspaper columnist
- March 1: Tom Hinson, accountant / embezzler
- March 11: Pat Morrow, high school band director
- March 22: Lamar Green, professional basketball player
- April 2: Emmylou Harris, singer / songwriter
- April 21: Barbara Park, children's author
- April 24: Ann Kelley, vocalist
- May 4: Dick Pigford, architect
- May 12: Patrick Cather, publisher and book collector
- May 18: Gail Strickland, actor
- June 7: Eric Wieschaus, Nobel prize-winning biologist
- June 13: Richmond Flowers Jr, professional football player
- June 18: Sandy Posey, vocalist
- July 3: Mickey Rooney Jr, actor / musician / television producer
- July 23: John Katopodis, Birmingham City Council member
- August 13: Dowd Ritter, CEO of Regions Bank
- September 27: Joe Moudry, technologist and fanzine publisher
- October 26: Wade Black, director of the Birmingham Pledge Foundation
- November 18: Saleh "Sol" Bajalieh, restaurateur
- December 7: Garry Unger professional hockey player / coach
- December 28: Spencer Bachus, former U.S. Representative
- Bunky Anderson, drummer and music promoter
- Leroy Bandy, Birmingham City Council member
- Bill Billits, Graysville City Council member
- Sandra Brown, Birmingham Board of Education member
- Tom Cosby, development director
- Edward Crenshaw, Ramsay High School band director
- John Dedrick, Homewood City Schools administrator
- Scott Douglas, director of Greater Birmingham Ministries
- Carolyn Featheringill, attorney and law professor
- Robert Haslam, bartender
- Elias Hendricks, Birmingham City Council member
- Rob Henrikson, CEO of MetLife
- Janet King, nurse
- Robert Luckie III, advertising executive
- Jerry McIntosh, Irondale Police Department chief
- Diane McNaron, cabaret singer
- Joe Meadow, Birmingham Zoo Express conductor
- Mona, Birmingham Zoo elephant
- Larry Naves, judge
- Fred Plump, firefighter and youth sports promoter
- Garth Potts, artist, Levite Jewish Community Center director
- Mike Rasmussen, attorney
- Johnny Robinson, victim of racial violence
- Fred Shuttlesworth Jr
- Susie, Birmingham Zoo elephant
- Gwen Sykes, Birmingham City Council member
- Barry Taylor, vocalist / building inspector
- Jack Trawick, murderer
- Jairo Vargas, newspaper publisher
- Ted vonCannon, industrial recruiter
- Bill Waites, Pleasant Grove Police and Fire Department chief
- Mike Warren, business executive
- Sam Wehby, real estate executive
- Ron Yarbrough, concessionaire
Graduations
- Oscar Adams Jr earned his law degree at Howard University.
- Bill Bolen graduated from Albert G. Parish High School.
- Joseph Braswell graduated from Birmingham-Southern College.
- Eric Embry earned his degree at the University of Alabama School of Law.
- Harry U. Gilmer completed a degree in chemical engineering at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
- Leven Hazlegrove completed a chemistry degree at Howard College.
- Jim Hillhouse graduated from Marion Military Institute.
- Glenn Ireland II graduated from the University of Virginia.
- Autherine Lucy graduated from Linden Academy in Marengo County.
- Jack Nelson graduated from Notre Dame High School in Biloxi, Mississippi.
- William Powell graduated from Phillips High School.
- Frank Samford Jr graduated from the University of Alabama.
- Ezra Sims completed a bachelor of arts at Birmingham-Southern College.
- Martha Sykes graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
- Dewey White completed his medical degree at the University of Virginia.
Marriages
- June 10: Metropolitan Opera soprano Irene Jordan married violinist Arnold Caplan.
- August 8: Rosamond McDuff married Mary Evelyn Morgan at the First Pentecostal Holiness Church in North Birmingham.
- October 12: Satchel Paige married Lahoma Brown in Hays, Kansas.
- Virginia Pounds married William Bestor Brown.
- Robert Guillot married Patty Shirley.
- John Patterson married Mary Jo McGowin.
- Ed Jones married June McGowen.
- Margaret Gresham married James Livingston.
Awards
- Erskine Hawkins was given an honorary doctorate by Alabama State University.
- John Rhoden was awarded a Rosenwald Fellowship for sculpture at Columbia University.
- Miss Alabama: Peggy Elder
Retirements
- Carlton Molesworth retired from baseball.
Deaths
- January 3: Lewis Barrett, newspaper publisher
- January 8: Dyer Talley, surgeon
- February 6: Oscar Spiegel, First Christian Church pastor
- April 17: Frank Hartley Anderson, architect / artist
- May 16: Robert Aland, founder of New Ideal department store
- July 15: Archibald Carmichael, U.S. Representative
- October 30: Isaac Ullman, magazine publisher
- October 31: Robert Meyer, hotel owner
- Ella Graham
Works
- Annals of the Southside Baptist Church by James Sulzby Jr
- Colonial Stores introduced their "rooster" logo.
Buildings
- 1 Wood Manor in Tuscaloosa
- Ans-O-Phone building on 6th Avenue North
- John Carroll Catholic High School
- College Theatre in East Lake
- Crestline Heights Shopping Center in Crestline Village
- Edgewood Elementary School auditorium
- Elmore's on 18th Street South in Homewood
- Exchange Bank Building on 20th Street South
- Five Points Market shopping center
- Home Baking Company renovations
- Parham Apothecary Building in Fairfield
- Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory on 6th Avenue North
- South Elyton Baptist Church
- Legion Field south end zone grandstands
- Wenonah Elementary School
- WJLD building on Bessemer Super Highway
- 3rd Avenue Farmers Market remodeling
- More than 50 homes at Central Park Gardens developed by Jim Wood Jr
Music
Film, Radio and TV
- Walter Lantz Productions made a series of Reddy Kilowatt cartoon shorts.
Context
1940s |
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