1988

1988 was the 117th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

The Hoover Metropolitan Stadium opened in 1988

• January 28: UAB's 1917 Clinic opened.
• Larry Langford was elected Mayor of Fairfield.
• Oscar Adams, Jr was re-elected to his seat on the Alabama Supreme Court.
• Cleveland Hammonds succeeded Walter Harris as superintendent of Birmingham City Schools.
• Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve acquired the Shepherd Tract for expansion.
• April 21: Fire destroyed the interior of All Saints Episcopal Church in Edgewood.

Business

• Agama International lizard farm was opened in Montevallo.
• Birmingham-based Highland Bank opened.
• Don Morrison and David Scheirer formed Morrison Scheirer Architects.
• Air New Orleans filed for bankruptcy and ceased operating.

Sports

• Eli Gold began announcing Alabama Crimson Tide football games
• Florida defeated Illinois 14-10 in the All-American Bowl at Legion Field on the strength of Emmitt Smith's 159 rushing yards
• March: NCAA Southeast Regional Semifinals and Finals were held at the BJCC
• April 18: Birmingham Barons played their first game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium
• November 25: Auburn Tigers won the 1988 Iron Bowl 15-10 at Legion Field

See also: 1988 Birmingham Barons

Works

• Joe Minter began working on his "African Village in America".

Books

• House Detective: A Guide to Researching Birmingham Buildings by Ann McCorquodale Burkhardt

Buildings

• Bartow Arena
• Galleria 10
• Linn Park renovations
• Meadow Brook 300 at the Meadow Brook Corporate Park
• Minor High School
• Hoover Metropolitan Stadium
• UAB renamed the former Doctor's Center the Paul S. Worrell Building
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens' Blount Plaza with Granite Garden sculpture installation.

Individuals

• Sam Mitchell retired from Samford University.
• Bob Roller was named director of communications for the Orange Bowl.

Births

Erica & Monica Stacy, born in 1988

• January 13: Amanda Tapley, Miss Alabama 2008
• March 25: Rodney Franklin, football player
• July 28: Erica and Monica Stacy, spokesmodels
• August 1: Ryan Kinder, singer-songwriter
• August 1: Lakendall Sims, murderer
• November 9: Ross Wilson, baseball player
• Rachel Hood: Birmingham Police officer and former victim of child abuse
• Derrol Shaw, murderer
• Antwon Womack, political candidate

Awards

• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame indcutees: Horace Carney, Roosevelt Hatcher, James Henderson, Nathaniel Miller, Bobby Owens, Rose Marie Rushin, Bonna Mae Perine Samuels, and Tommy Stewart.
• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inductees: Jackie Burkett, Cary Cox, Dave Edwards, Rowdy Gaines, John Hannah and Billy Southworth.
• Butkus Award: Derrick Thomas.
• Miss Shelby County: Rebecca Dewberry
• United States Junior Invitational Championship (chess): Stuart Rachels

Graduations

• Tracey Morant Adams, B.B.A. at the University of Montevallo
• Zelia Baugh earned a B.S. in politiical science and sociology at Birmingham-Southern College
• Bernard Buggs graduated from Phillips High School
• Irene Latham graduated from Hewitt-Trussville High School
• Allan Lowe, B.S. in accounting at Auburn University
• Mark Wilson, M.D. at the University of North Carolina

Deaths

• March 3: John C. Fletcher, pastor of St John's Episcopal Church for the Deaf
• March 3: Lois Wilson, actress
• March 14: Saul Weingeroff, wrestling manager
• May 25: Charlie Perkins, Major League pitcher
• July 3: Thales McReynolds, NBA player
• August 7: Kirkman O'Neal, founder of O'Neal Steel
• October 27: James F. Sulzby, Jr, historian, musician and realtor
• November 12: Vet Boswell, singer
• December 19: John Nixon, dentist, Civil Rights activist, businessman and actor
• Hosea Hudson, labor and civil rights activist

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1988

Context

1988 saw perestroika begin in the Soviet Union. George H. W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis to become the 41st President of the United States. Oliver North was indicted in the Iran-Contra Affair. Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic home run to win Game One of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, over the Oakland Athletics, by a score of five runs to four. Singer Roy Orbison died.

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