1941

1941 was the 70th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• March 29: The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement came into effect, with WAPI-AM moving temporarily to AM 1170.

Business

• The Birmingham News and Birmingham Age-Herald adopted Linotype's new "Corona" typeface.
• Penn Central Airlines inaugurated direct passenger service from Birmingham Municipal Airport to Pittsburgh's Allegheny County Airport.

Establishments

• Tom Martin founded the Alabama Research Institute.
• The Anchorage Restaurant opened in Homewood.
• Ariail Drug Co. opened in Crestline Village.
• The Brooke Hill School for Girls opened.
• The Homewood Public Library was created at Homewood City Hall.
• John Packas Barbecue opened at 414 18th Street South.
• Morris Sher launched the clothing business that evolved into Krown Kredit.
• The Lucky Strike Bowling Alley opened at 2217 3rd Avenue North.
• Stapleton's Fine Foods opened at 2131 7th Avenue South.
• Vaughan-Weil opened at 1816 3rd Avenue North.

Government

• The U.S. Army Air Corps created the 332nd Fighter Group which trained African-American aviators at the Tuskegee Army Air Field.
• The Alabama Highway Department took over maintenance of the "Rose Trails" along the Florida Short Route.
• October 13: 1941 Birmingham municipal election

Religion

• Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church was founded by the Diocese of Mobile.
• St Theresa Catholic Church was founded by the Diocese of Mobile.

Sports

• January 1: Morris Brown defeated Wilberforce 19-3 in the inaugural Steel Bowl at Legion Field.

Works

• The Gardendale Elementary School murals were completed.
• February 17: The U.S.S. Birmingham (CL-62) was laid down at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.

Buildings

Bessemer City Hall

• Alabama Army Ammunition Plant near Childersburg
• Bessemer City Hall (built by the Works Progress Administration)
• Five Points West Shopping City
• Sears, Roebuck & Co. store in downtown Birmingham
• Inglenook Park was dedicated.
• McAdory High School in McCalla (built by the Works Progress Administration)
• Dam at Lake Tranquility, Oak Mountain State Park (built by the Works Progress Administration)
• Pilgrim Congregational Church at 1819 8th Avenue North
• Rock Mountain Fire Lookout Tower on Rock Mountain (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps)
• Southtown Court (built by the United States Housing Authority)
• Wharton Lookout Tower on Ruffner Mountain (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps)
• Wigwam Village on Bessemer Super Highway
• Eight-room addition to F. D. McArthur School in Druid Hills
• Expansion and renovation of the Homewood Theatre
• Indoor plumbing was added to Mortimer Jordan High School.

Individuals

• Avery Parrish left the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra.
• Virginia Tyler assumed directorship of the Ensley Community House.
• Margaret Walker began her teaching career at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Births

Way Bandy

Marty Eagle

• February 1: Giuseppe Bertolone, restaurateur
• March 24: Lester Cobb, drummer, artist, activist, and social worker
• March 25: Ralph Lindsey, Mayor of Kimberly
• March 30: Ocie Burton, Baptist minister
• April 1: Benny Nelson, professional football player
• April 13: Richard Williamson, professional football coach
• April 27: Lee Roy Jordan, professional football player
• May 3: Helen Shores Lee, clinical psychologist, attorney, and judge
• May 25: Jerry Woodard, rockabilly singer and guitarist
• June 8: Frank Parsons, attorney, travel agent, and civic leader
• June 21: Mitty Collier, soul and blues singer and Christian minister
• June 29: Elizabeth Garner, science teacher
• July 5: John Lusco, Latin teacher and dean of students
• August 9: Way Bandy, make-up artist
• August 15: Tommie Reynolds, professional baseball player
• September 6: Melford Espey, college administrator and creator of "Big Al"
• September 26: Bev Head, attorney, business leader, and political aide
• October 7: Thomas Corts, President of Samford University
• October 15: Marty Eagle, bar owner
• November 15: Jimmy Graphos, restaurateur
• December 7: Wayne Rasco, newspaper publisher
• December 8: Bill Battle III, sports licensing pioneer, football coach, and athletic director
• Larry Barton, barber, gospel singer, banker, and Mayor of Talladega
• Bill Morgan Freeman, artist and craftsman
• Mike Froning, educator
• Billy Gandy, Christmas tree farmer
• Donald Green, baseball coach and athletic director
• Barry Ivker, psychotherapist, literary scholar, poet, playwright, musician, dancer, and artist
• Jim Lawrence, real estate executive and poet
• Vincent Oliver, barber
• Albert Pacifico, cardiac surgeon
• Thomas Precise, Methodist minister
• Jim Reed, bookseller
• Dave Roddy, radio personality
• Carole Samuelson, pediatrician and Jefferson County Health Officer

Deaths

Julius Ellsberry

• January 19: Logwood Goin, physician
• January 27: Roderick MacKenzie, artist
• January 28: James "Brother" Bryan, Presbyterian minister
• February 28: Wallace Rayfield, architect
• March 11: Harry Breeding, architect
• June 10: John Coe, coal and lumber dealer
• July 30: Eugene Enslen, real estate and business investor
• October 14: Herbert Salmon, mining engineer
• December 7: Julius Ellsberry, U.S. Navy crewman
• December 7: Billy McCary, U.S. Navy musician

See also: List of homicides in 1941

Marriages

• June 21: William Sulzby married Mildred Wood.
• Fred Shuttlesworth married Ruby Keeler.

Graduations

• Attorney Samuel Burr earned his bachelor of arts at the University of Alabama.
• Novelist Walker Percy completed an M.D. from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Context

In 1941

1940s

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