1973

1973 was the 102nd year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• Samford University took over administration of the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing from Baptist Medical Center.
• Hugh Daniel provided funds for an endowed directorship of the Birmingham Museum of Art.
• The Alabama Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society was founded.
• The Alabama Symphony Orchestra took up residence in the new BJCC Concert Hall.

Government

• The first implementation of what became the Birmingham Community Participation Program was tested by Operation New Birmingham in North Birmingham.
• The Birmingham Fire Department added paramedic services.
• The present Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority was established by the Alabama legislature.
• The Midfield Post Office was established.

Business

• Dugan's opened in the Shepherd-Sloss Building at 2011 Highland Avenue.
• Frank P. Samford, Jr was named Chairman of Liberty National Life Insurance Company.
• The first franchised location of Golden Rule Bar-B-Q opened at 1571 Montgomery Highway in Hoover.
• Trilogy Leather opened in its present location in Edgewood.
• Richard Gilliam succeeded Paul Woolley as head football coach at Montevallo High School.
• Central Bancshares of the South offered new stock to enable statewide expansion.
• Ron Casey joined the reporting staff at the Birmingham News.

Sports

• The Alabama Crimson Tide was named National Champion in the coaches poll after an 11-0 season, but before a loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
• Banks High School won a second consecutive 4A football championship under Coach Shorty White.
• Marvin Warner joined with majority partner George Steinbrenner to purchase the New York Yankees.
• Bobby Allison finished third at the National 500 in Charlotte, North Carolina in a result marred by controversy over engine size.
• David Pearson won the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway following a 20-car crash.
• Watson Brown began his coaching career at his alma mater, Vanderbilt University.
• Otis Thornton appeared in 2 games for the Houston Astros.
• Cliff Hare Stadium in Auburn was renamed to honor coach Shug Jordan.

Works

Books

• Plastic Tears, book of poems by Charles Ghigna

Buildings

• Birmingham Municipal Airport terminal building
• BJCC Concert Hall
• Brookwood Village
• Denman Hall at UAB

Films and TV

• Producer Gail Patrick tried unsuccessfully to launch a "New Perry Mason" program.

Music

• Space is the Place, album by Sun Ra
• Concert for the Comet Kohoutek, album by Sun Ra

People

• John Harbert III chaired the Governor's Energy Advisory Committee
• Ron McGuffie joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
• Amasa Smith succeeded George Mattison, Jr as president of The Club
• Virginia Tyler retired from directing the Ensley Community House.
• Timothy Leary was arrested on a plane headed to Kabul, Afghanistan.

Awards

• John Katopodis completed a Masters in Public Administration at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government
• Jack Wood graduated from Auburn University

Births

• February 24: Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1994
• October 29: Olympian Vonetta Flowers
• November 9: Brett Taft, baseball player
• December 7: Terrell Owens, NFL wide receiver
• Patrick Sellers, Pastor of Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church
• Mary Gunnerson, environmental inspector for the City of Birmingham.

Deaths

• February : Stanleigh Malotte, organist at the Alabama Theatre
• March 10: Bull Connor, former Birmingham City Commissioner

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1973

Context

1970s

<< 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 >>

Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works