1948

1948, a leap year, was the 77th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• The City of Trafford was incorporated.
• The Birmingham Municipal Airport was returned by the Army Air Corps to city control after World War II.
• May: Senator Glen Taylor of Idaho was arrested for attempting to speak to the Southern Negro Youth Congress in Birmingham, a violation of the city's segregation laws.
• The last Miss Birmingham pageant was held at the Alabama Theatre.
• Homewood Park was dedicated.
• Birmingham Railway & Electric Company ridership peaked at 93 million passengers.
• A small fire broke out in room 315 of the Tutwiler Hotel.
• Land on Red Mountain was purchased for development of The Club.
• Trinity Lutheran Church in West End was founded by members of First Lutheran Church.
• The Ku Klux Klan raided Camp Fletcher, a Girl Scout camp near Bessemer.
• The State Teachers College was re-named "Alabama State College for Negroes".
• February 1: The Burchfiel Chimes at East Lake United Methodist Church were dedicated.
• July 17: The inaugural Dixiecrat convention, held at Municipal Auditorium, nominated Strom Thurmond as its presidential candidate.

Business

• Western Supermarkets was founded.
• Cobb Lane Restaurant was opened by Virginia Cobb in the former Levert Apartments.
• The Pell City Steak House was opened.
• Dichiara's Steak House opened.

Sports

• The Southeastern Conference moved its headquarters to Birmingham.
• The 1948 Birmingham Barons drew 445,926 to Rickwood Field and won the Dixie Series over Fort Worth.
• The 1948 Birmingham Black Barons 1948 Negro American League
• Satchel Paige signed a Major League contract with the Cleveland Indians.
• Frank House signed a Major League contract with the Detroit Tigers.
• The Birmingham Vulcans and Bessemer Whiz Kids of the Southern Professional Basketball League played their final seasons.
• January 1: Central State (Ohio) defeated Grambling State 27-21 in the 7th Vulcan Bowl at Legion Field.
• January 1: Arkansas defeated William & Mary 21-19 in the first Dixie Bowl at Legion Field.
• August 31: Jim Wasdell recorded a Barons record six hits against Chattanooga.
• December 4: The 1948 Iron Bowl, won by Alabama 55-0, was the first to be held at Legion Field.

Works

Buildings

• Camp McDowell
• Fair Park Drive-In
• Joe's Ranch House
• Newmar Theatre
• Park Lane Apartments
• Rickwood Field, new ladies' restroom and shorter outfield fence
• hades Valley High School
• Robert Tyler residence
• Vestavia Hills Elementary School East

Music

• Phillips High School's Alma Mater was composed by Alfred Mayer
• Hardrock Gunter left the Golden River Boys.

Film, Radio and TV

• WBRC-FM began the transition to become the first television station in Birmingham in 1949.
• The Inside Story, film starring Gail Patrick.
• WJLN-FM was launched as a sister station to WJLD-AM.
• Hank Penny joined the "Hoffman Hayride" television show.

People

• Columnist Clettus Atkinson joined the staff of the Birmingham Age-Herald.
• Cartoonist Charles Brooks joined the staff of the Birmingham News.
• Reporter Clarke Stallworth joined the staff of the Birmingham Post.
• Gus Koutroulakis began working at Pete's Famous Hot Dogs.
• Hoyt Ayers succeeded J. R. Smith as Chief of the Birmingham Fire Department.
• Henry Stanford was named president of Georgia Southwestern College.
• Eugene Zeidman succeeded Max Hurvich as president of Temple Beth-El.
• Samuel Burr entered the partnership of Burr & Forman.
• Edgar Arendall succeeded William M. Vines as pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.
• H. C. Crelly was re-elected Mayor of Homewood.

Births

• January 31: Mike Kolen, football player
• March 17: Larry Langford, politician
• May 17: Carlos May, baseball player
• July 2: Elvin Ivory, NBA player
• August 3: Ray Reach, jazz pianist
• August 7: John Amari, judge
• September 3: Stan Starnes, attorney and executive
• September 8; Donald Watkins, attorney and banker
• September 11: Phillip Alford, child actor
• September 13: Nell Carter, entertainer
• October 29: Kate Jackson, actress and Henry Parsley, Episcopal Bishop of Alabama
• Jim Dearth, oncologist and hospital administrator
• David Hunke, planner
• David Pollick, college administrator

Awards

• Birmingham Woman of the Year: Dorothy Thames Schwartz
• Miss Alabama: Martha Ann Ingram/Marjorie Orr
• John Rhoden won 1st prize for sculpture at Columbia University.

Graduations

• George M. Murray from the Virginia Theological Seminary
• Tom King from the University of Alabama with a bachelor's in accounting
• Ward McIntyre from Ramsay High School

Deaths

• May 27: U. S. Representative William B. Oliver.
• Industrialist Henry T. DeBardeleben

Context

In 1948

1940s

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Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works