1983: Difference between revisions
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==Events== | ==Events== | ||
* [[April 27]]: Evangelist [[Lee Roberson]] preached his final sermon at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. | |||
* [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve]] and the City of Birmingham purchased 120 acres from the [[Jim Walter Company]] for expansion of the preserve. | |||
* The first [[Magic City Art Connection]] was held at [[Linn Park]]. | * The first [[Magic City Art Connection]] was held at [[Linn Park]]. | ||
* [[Mountain Brook High School]], [[Homewood High School]] and [[Homewood Middle School]] were named Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education. | * [[Mountain Brook High School]], [[Homewood High School]] and [[Homewood Middle School]] were named Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education. | ||
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* [[Geneva Mercer]] donated [[Giuseppe Moretti]]'s scrapbooks to the Julia Tutwiler Library at the University of West Alabama. | * [[Geneva Mercer]] donated [[Giuseppe Moretti]]'s scrapbooks to the Julia Tutwiler Library at the University of West Alabama. | ||
* [[Red Mountain Theatre Company|Summerfest]] presented ''The Music Man'', ''Annie'', and ''Barbary Coast''. | * [[Red Mountain Theatre Company|Summerfest]] presented ''The Music Man'', ''Annie'', and ''Barbary Coast''. | ||
* The [[Interfaith Hospitality House]] was founded by [[Grace Episcopal Church]]. | |||
* [[First Presbyterian Church]] founded [[First Light]] shelter in their basement. | |||
* [[October 22]]: Quiet Riot played at [[Boutwell Auditorium]]. | |||
=== | ===Government=== | ||
* [[Richard Arrington]] was re-elected as [[Mayor of Birmingham]]. [[William Bell]], [[Jeff Germany]], [[David Herring]] and [[Russell Yarbrough]] were re-elected to four-year terms in the [[Birmingham City Council]]. [[Eddie Blankenship]] won the two-year seat. Herring succeeded [[John Katopodis]] as Council President. (See [[1983 Birmingham mayoral election]]) | * [[Richard Arrington]] was re-elected as [[Mayor of Birmingham]]. [[William Bell]], [[Jeff Germany]], [[David Herring]] and [[Russell Yarbrough]] were re-elected to four-year terms in the [[Birmingham City Council]]. [[Eddie Blankenship]] won the two-year seat. Herring succeeded [[John Katopodis]] as Council President. (See [[1983 Birmingham mayoral election]]) | ||
* [[Ben Erdreich]] succeeded [[Albert L. Smith, Jr]] as Representative of the [[6th Congressional District of Alabama]]. | * [[Ben Erdreich]] succeeded [[Albert L. Smith, Jr]] as Representative of the [[6th Congressional District of Alabama]]. | ||
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* [[George Wallace]] succeeded [[Fob James]] as [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]]. | * [[George Wallace]] succeeded [[Fob James]] as [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]]. | ||
* [[Jim Bennett]] was elected to the [[Alabama State Senate]]. | * [[Jim Bennett]] was elected to the [[Alabama State Senate]]. | ||
* A federal lawsuit was filed which eventually forced [[Bessemer]] to switch from a City Commission to Mayor-Council form of government. | |||
* [[Carbon Hill Schools]] merged into [[Walker County Schools]]. | |||
===Business=== | ===Business=== | ||
* [[Richard Scrushy]] left Lifemark Corporation in Houston to plan for the founding of [[HealthSouth]]. | * [[Richard Scrushy]] left Lifemark Corporation in Houston to plan for the founding of [[HealthSouth]]. | ||
* The [[Redmont Hotel]] was purchased by an investment group made up of NBA players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ralph Sampson. | * The [[Redmont Hotel]] was purchased by an investment group made up of NBA players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ralph Sampson. | ||
* [[Parisian]] became a publicly-traded company. | * [[Parisian]] became a publicly-traded company. | ||
* [[AmSouth Bank|First National Bank of Birmingham]] began operating as [[AmSouth Bank]]. | * [[AmSouth Bank|First National Bank of Birmingham]] began operating as [[AmSouth Bank]]. | ||
* Arlington Broadcasting bought independent TV station [[WTTO]]. | * Arlington Broadcasting bought independent TV station [[WTTO]]. | ||
* The [[Birmingham Large Users Group]] was organized. | * The [[Birmingham Large Users Group]] was organized. | ||
* [[Bruno's]] celebrated its 50th anniversary. | * [[Bruno's]] celebrated its 50th anniversary. | ||
* [[Mike Warren]] left [[Bradley, Arant, Rose & White]] to become general counsel for [[Alagasco]]. | * [[Mike Warren]] left [[Bradley, Arant, Rose & White]] to become general counsel for [[Alagasco]]. | ||
* [[Bill Edmonds]] became chair of [[BE&K]]. | * [[Bill Edmonds]] became chair of [[BE&K]]. | ||
* [[Raymond Josof]] sold [[Raymond's Five Points Market]] to his son, [[Raymond Josof, Jr|Raymond, Jr]]. | |||
* [[Victor Hanson II]] became publisher of ''[[The Birmingham News]]'' after the death of his father, [[Clarence Hanson Jr]], the previous publisher. | |||
====Establishments==== | |||
* [[February 2]]: [[New South Research|Polly Graham & Associates Market Research Inc.]] was incorporated. | |||
* [[May 1]]: [[Almost Famous]] art gallery at [[Five Points South]] opened. | |||
* [[August 3]]: [[Robert Hill Custom Tailors]] opened at [[2201–2209 3rd Avenue North|2205 3rd Avenue North]]. | |||
* [[Brantley Homes]] was founded. | |||
* The [[Collegiate Licensing Company]] was formed by [[Bill Battle III]]. | * The [[Collegiate Licensing Company]] was formed by [[Bill Battle III]]. | ||
* [[Bruce Ayers]] opened [[Comedy Club Stardome|The Comedy Club]]. | |||
* [[Ellis Piano]] was founded. | |||
* [[Hoffman Media|Symbol of Excellence Publishers]] was founded. | |||
* The [[Jaguar Club]] was opened by [[Walter Earl Garfield]] and [[Ulysses Smoot|Ulysses]] and [[Linda Smoot]]. | |||
* [[Joel's Restaurant]] opened in downtown [[Trussville]]. | |||
* The first franchise location of [[Milo's Hamburgers]] opened on [[Southside]]. | |||
* [[Video Xpress]] was founded in [[Bessemer]]. | |||
====Disestablishments==== | |||
* The [[Connors Steel Company|Connors Division]] minimill in [[Woodlawn]] was shuttered and sold to [[CMC Steel Alabama|SMI Steel]]. | |||
* The [[Lincoln Theatre]] in [[Bessemer]] closed. | |||
* [[Mack's Quick Sack]] closed. | |||
* The [[Thomas Jefferson Hotel|Cabana Hotel]] closed. | |||
===Sports=== | ===Sports=== | ||
* The [[1983 Birmingham Barons]] won their first [[Southern League]] title since resuming play in [[1981]]. | * The [[1983 Birmingham Barons]] won their first [[Southern League]] title since resuming play in [[1981]]. | ||
* The [[1983 Birmingham Stallions]] played their inaugural season at [[Legion Field]], finishing with a 9-9 record. | * The [[1983 Birmingham Stallions]] played their inaugural season at [[Legion Field]], finishing with a 9-9 record. | ||
* [[October 16]]: The Alabama-Tennessee game at [[Legion Field]] was the first college football game ever broadcast on a pay-per-view basis. | |||
* [[Bo Jackson]] rushed for 256 yards to help [[Auburn Tigers|Auburn]] to a 23-20 victory over [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Alabama]] in the [[1983 Iron Bowl]] at [[Legion Field]]. | * [[Bo Jackson]] rushed for 256 yards to help [[Auburn Tigers|Auburn]] to a 23-20 victory over [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Alabama]] in the [[1983 Iron Bowl]] at [[Legion Field]]. | ||
* West Virginia defeated Kentucky 20-16 in the 1983 [[Hall of Fame Classic]] at [[Legion Field]]. | * West Virginia defeated Kentucky 20-16 in the 1983 [[Hall of Fame Classic]] at [[Legion Field]]. | ||
* [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Alabama]]'s [[Mike Davis]] was drafted by the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. | * [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Alabama]]'s [[Mike Davis]] was drafted by the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. | ||
* The [[Birmingham South Stars]] finished their sole season, losing in the final championship series. | |||
* A new [[Birmingham Bulls]] played three games in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League before folding. | * A new [[Birmingham Bulls]] played three games in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League before folding. | ||
* [[Jack Wood]] became head football coach at Auburn High School. | * [[Jack Wood]] became head football coach at Auburn High School. | ||
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* Wide receiver [[Mike Jones]] became an Atlanta Falcon. | * Wide receiver [[Mike Jones]] became an Atlanta Falcon. | ||
* [[Preston Goldfarb]] became head coach of the [[BSC Panthers]] men's soccer team. | * [[Preston Goldfarb]] became head coach of the [[BSC Panthers]] men's soccer team. | ||
* [[Ray Perkins]] led his first [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] team to an 8-4 record. | |||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
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* ''Alexandra'', feature film produced by [[David F. Friedman]]. | * ''Alexandra'', feature film produced by [[David F. Friedman]]. | ||
* "The Heaven That I Look For Up Above Had a Hole and I Fell Back to Earth" and "The Mystery of the White in Me", sculptures by [[Lonnie Holley]] | * "The Heaven That I Look For Up Above Had a Hole and I Fell Back to Earth" and "The Mystery of the White in Me", sculptures by [[Lonnie Holley]] | ||
* ''[[Home Grown Album]]'' compilation produced by [[95 Rock]] | |||
* "Wendel", a gay-themed comic strip by [[Howard Cruse]], debuted in the ''Advocate''. | * "Wendel", a gay-themed comic strip by [[Howard Cruse]], debuted in the ''Advocate''. | ||
* ''From the One That Cut You'', novelty album featuring [[T. R. Reed]]. | * ''From the One That Cut You'', novelty album featuring [[T. R. Reed]]. | ||
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* [[Hoover Public Library]] (inside the [[Hoover Municipal Complex]]) | * [[Hoover Public Library]] (inside the [[Hoover Municipal Complex]]) | ||
* [[Hoover Square 6]] cinema | * [[Hoover Square 6]] cinema | ||
* | * [[Interstate 359]] was completed. | ||
* [[ | * [[Highland Bluff Apartments|Ski Lodge Apartments III]] | ||
* [[Hill University Center|UAB University Center]] | |||
* The [[Larry Lemak residence]] on [[Cherokee Road]] | |||
* [[McCallum Basic Health Sciences Building]] | |||
* Expansion of [[Midfield Theater]] | |||
* Expansion of [[Southern Museum of Flight]] | * Expansion of [[Southern Museum of Flight]] | ||
* Refurbishing of the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center]] | * Refurbishing of the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center]] | ||
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* Acquisition of the [[Ramsay-McCormack building]] by the City of [[Birmingham]]. | * Acquisition of the [[Ramsay-McCormack building]] by the City of [[Birmingham]]. | ||
* [[National Register of Historic Places]]: [[John A. Hand Building]], [[Woodward Building]], [[Cathedral Church of the Advent]], [[Five Points South Historic District]], [[Redmont Hotel]], [[Loveman's|Loveman, Joseph & Loeb Department Store]], [[Leeds Southern Railroad Depot]] | * [[National Register of Historic Places]]: [[John A. Hand Building]], [[Woodward Building]], [[Cathedral Church of the Advent]], [[Five Points South Historic District]], [[Redmont Hotel]], [[Loveman's|Loveman, Joseph & Loeb Department Store]], [[Leeds Southern Railroad Depot]] | ||
* [[510 Gadsden Highway|SportPlex]] on [[Gadsden Highway]] in [[Huffman]] | |||
* [[Wal-Mart Cullman Distribution Center]] | |||
== | ==Individuals== | ||
* [[Douglas K. S. Hyland]] succeeded [[Richard N. Murray]] as curator of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] | * [[Douglas K. S. Hyland]] succeeded [[Richard N. Murray]] as curator of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] | ||
* [[Jim Bob & the Leisure Suits]] broke up. | * [[Jim Bob & the Leisure Suits]] broke up. | ||
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* [[Thomas Hearn]] was appointed President of Wake Forest University. | * [[Thomas Hearn]] was appointed President of Wake Forest University. | ||
* Scholar [[Roland Frye]] retired from full-time teaching. | * Scholar [[Roland Frye]] retired from full-time teaching. | ||
* [[Ray Melick]] began covering the [[Auburn Tigers]] for the ''[[Birmingham Post-Herald]]''. | |||
* [[Charles W. Ireland]] retired from the chairmanship of [[Vulcan Materials]]. | |||
* [[Richard Shahan]] was ordained as a minister at Wedgwood Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. | |||
* [[Carl Morton]] retired from the [[Hardy Corporation]] as vice president. | |||
* [[Frank Bromberg]], [[Garry Neil Drummond]], [[Cleo Thomas]], [[Aaron Aronov]] and [[Sandral Hullett]] were appointed to the [[University of Alabama Board of Trustees]] | |||
* [[Joseph Gayles Jr]] resigned from [[Talladega College]] to return to Morehouse College as vice president of institutional advancement. | |||
===Births=== | |||
* [[March 6]]: [[Virgil Griffith]], computer programmer and reality show contestant | |||
* [[March 18]]: [[Michael Richardson]], conceptual artist for [[Birmingham Pledge mural]] | |||
* [[March 24]]: [[Eric West]], baseball player | |||
* [[April 13]]: [[Michael Warren]], musician | |||
* [[April 21]]: [[Tarvaris Jackson]], football player | |||
* [[April 24]]: [[Taylor Hollingsworth]], musician | |||
* [[May 9]]: [[Tyler Lumsden]], [[Birmingham Barons]] pitcher | |||
* [[May 11]]: [[Brett Burton]], founder of [[Primavera]] coffee roaster | |||
* [[May 31]]: [[Anthony Cupps]], baseball player | |||
* [[June 15]]: [[Michael McClure Jr]], pastor of [[The Rock Church (Fultondale)]] | |||
* [[August 7]]: [[Darell Hackney]], [[UAB Blazers]] quarterback | |||
* [[August 24]]: [[Alan Johnson]], baseball player | |||
* [[August 30]]: [[Christ Getz]], [[Birmingham Barons]] infielder | |||
* [[August 31]]: [[Seay family|Martez Seay]], multiple murder suspect | |||
* [[October 17]]: [[James Lang]], basketball player | |||
* [[Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd]], executive director of [[Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering]] | |||
* [[Deontée Gordon]], president of [[TechBirmingham]] | |||
* [[Navari Jones]], drummer | |||
* [[Christina Karis]], actor | |||
* [[Jamie Langley]], [[2007]] [[Miss Alabama]] | |||
* [[David McKinney]], educator | |||
* [[Haleigh Stidham]], [[2006]] [[Miss Alabama USA]] | |||
* [[Ty West]], newspaper editor | |||
* [[Lauren Wiersma]], brewer | |||
===Awards=== | ===Awards=== | ||
* [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]]: [[Hooper T. Abrams]], [[Leroy Allen]], [[Leatha Bell]], [[Frank Carpenter]], [[Paul B. Coman]], [[LaVergne Comer]], [[Dolly Brown Gibson]], [[Marcellus Green]], [[Frank Greer]], [[Monroe Kennedy]], [[Robert McCoy]], [[Neal McLean]], [[Bull Simpson]], and [[Jesse Taylor]]. | * [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]]: [[Hooper T. Abrams]], [[Leroy Allen]], [[Leatha Bell]], [[Frank Carpenter]], [[Paul B. Coman]], [[LaVergne Comer]], [[Dolly Brown Gibson]], [[Marcellus Green]], [[Frank Greer]], [[Monroe Kennedy]], [[Robert McCoy]], [[Neal McLean]], [[Bull Simpson]], and [[Jesse Taylor]]. | ||
* [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]: [[Maxie Baughan]], [[Tom Jenkins]], [[George Lindsey]], [[Billy Neighbors]], [[Gabby Street]] and [[Billy Williams]]. | * [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]: [[Maxie Baughan]], [[Tom Jenkins]], [[George Lindsey]], [[Billy Neighbors]], [[Gabby Street]] and [[Billy Williams]]. | ||
* [[Alabama Academy of Honor]]: [[Charley Boswell]] and [[Harry Brock | * [[Alabama Academy of Honor]]: [[Charley Boswell]] and [[Harry Brock Jr]] | ||
* [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Pam Battles]] | * [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Pam Battles]] | ||
* [[Miss UAB]]: [[Phyllis Pope]] | |||
* [[Russ Fine]] earned tenure as a professor at [[UAB]]. | * [[Russ Fine]] earned tenure as a professor at [[UAB]]. | ||
* [[Pat Dye]] was named [[Southeastern Conference]] Coach of the Year. | * [[Pat Dye]] was named [[Southeastern Conference]] Coach of the Year. | ||
* [[Hugh Martin]] was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. | |||
* [[Carl Morton]] was appointed [[Poet Laureate of Alabama]]. | |||
===Graduations=== | ===Graduations=== | ||
* [[Howard Bayless]] and [[Jeff Herrod]] graduated from [[Banks High School]]. | * [[Howard Bayless]] and [[Jeff Herrod]] graduated from [[Banks High School]]. | ||
* Running back [[Cornelius Bennett]] graduated from [[Ensley High School]]. | * Running back [[Cornelius Bennett]] graduated from [[Ensley High School]]. | ||
* [[Greg Canfield]] completed his B.S. in finance at [[UAB]]. | |||
* Career police officer [[Moody Duff]] graduated from [[UAB]] and joined the [[UAB Police Department]]. | |||
* Football player [[Curt Jarvis]] graduated from [[Gardendale High School]]. | * Football player [[Curt Jarvis]] graduated from [[Gardendale High School]]. | ||
* [[ | * Organist [[Gary Jones]] graduated from [[Jacksonville State University]]. | ||
* [[Vanessa Leonard]] earned a B.S. in health care accounting from the [[University of Alabama]]. | |||
* [[Rica Lewis-Payton]] graduated from [[UAB]] with a master's in health care management. | |||
* [[Allan Lowe]] graduated from [[Shelby County High School]] | |||
* [[ | * Football coach [[Jim McElwain]] earned his degree in education from Eastern Washington University. | ||
* [[ | * Banker and former [[UAB Blazers]] athletic director [[Brian Mackin]] earned his bachelor's degree in finance at [[UAB]]. | ||
* [[ | * Actor [[Michael Papajohn]] graduated from [[Vestavia Hills High School]]. | ||
* [[ | * [[Tim Ritchie]] completed his undergraduate degree at Davidson College. | ||
* [[Samford University|Samford]] athletic director [[Bob Roller]] graduated from Virginia Tech. | |||
* [[ | * [[Bonner Wagnon]] graduated from [[Birmingham-Southern College]]. | ||
* [[ | * [[Jimbo Wood]] graduated from the [[University of Montevallo]]. | ||
* [[ | |||
* [[ | |||
===Deaths=== | ===Deaths=== | ||
* [[January 5]]: [[Morris Levy]], jeweler | |||
* [[January 26]]: [[Bear Bryant]], [[University of Alabama]] football coach | * [[January 26]]: [[Bear Bryant]], [[University of Alabama]] football coach | ||
* [[February 27]]: [[Malcolm McRae]] went missing and was later found [[List of homicides in 1983#Shelby County|shot to death]]. | |||
* [[April 22]]: John Louis Evans III was executed at the Holman Correctional Facility near Atmore. The sentence was carried out by electric chair. | |||
* [[May 19]]: [[Jerry Young]], [[UAB]] executive and Sun Belt Conference president | |||
* [[May 27]]: [[Asa Rountree Jr]], former Director of the Alabama Department of Aeronautics | |||
* [[July 12]]: [[Rex Winchester]], an [[Irondale Police Department|Irondale Police]] officer, was [[List of homicides in 1983#Irondale|killed]] in the line of duty. | |||
* [[October 27]]: [[R. Hugh Daniel]], businessman | * [[October 27]]: [[R. Hugh Daniel]], businessman | ||
* [[Warren Carlile]], restauranteur | * [[Warren Carlile]], restauranteur | ||
* [[Clarence Hanson Jr]], ''[[The Birmingham News|Birmingham News]]'' publisher | |||
* [[Tom Stevens]], founder and CEO of the [[Home Baking Company]] | |||
:''See also: [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1983]]'' | :''See also: [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1983]]'' |
Latest revision as of 13:08, 30 March 2024
1983 was the 112th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.
Events
- April 27: Evangelist Lee Roberson preached his final sermon at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and the City of Birmingham purchased 120 acres from the Jim Walter Company for expansion of the preserve.
- The first Magic City Art Connection was held at Linn Park.
- Mountain Brook High School, Homewood High School and Homewood Middle School were named Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education.
- Isaac Stern joined the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for their 50th anniversary celebration.
- The Brother Bryan statue was returned to Five Points South from Vulcan Park.
- Frozen pipes forced a tenant evacuation of the Avon Building in Lakeview.
- Birmingham Festival of Arts Salute to India.
- Geneva Mercer donated Giuseppe Moretti's scrapbooks to the Julia Tutwiler Library at the University of West Alabama.
- Summerfest presented The Music Man, Annie, and Barbary Coast.
- The Interfaith Hospitality House was founded by Grace Episcopal Church.
- First Presbyterian Church founded First Light shelter in their basement.
- October 22: Quiet Riot played at Boutwell Auditorium.
Government
- Richard Arrington was re-elected as Mayor of Birmingham. William Bell, Jeff Germany, David Herring and Russell Yarbrough were re-elected to four-year terms in the Birmingham City Council. Eddie Blankenship won the two-year seat. Herring succeeded John Katopodis as Council President. (See 1983 Birmingham mayoral election)
- Ben Erdreich succeeded Albert L. Smith, Jr as Representative of the 6th Congressional District of Alabama.
- Gary White and George Perdue joined the Alabama House of Representatives.
- George Wallace succeeded Fob James as Governor of Alabama.
- Jim Bennett was elected to the Alabama State Senate.
- A federal lawsuit was filed which eventually forced Bessemer to switch from a City Commission to Mayor-Council form of government.
- Carbon Hill Schools merged into Walker County Schools.
Business
- Richard Scrushy left Lifemark Corporation in Houston to plan for the founding of HealthSouth.
- The Redmont Hotel was purchased by an investment group made up of NBA players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ralph Sampson.
- Parisian became a publicly-traded company.
- First National Bank of Birmingham began operating as AmSouth Bank.
- Arlington Broadcasting bought independent TV station WTTO.
- The Birmingham Large Users Group was organized.
- Bruno's celebrated its 50th anniversary.
- Mike Warren left Bradley, Arant, Rose & White to become general counsel for Alagasco.
- Bill Edmonds became chair of BE&K.
- Raymond Josof sold Raymond's Five Points Market to his son, Raymond, Jr.
- Victor Hanson II became publisher of The Birmingham News after the death of his father, Clarence Hanson Jr, the previous publisher.
Establishments
- February 2: Polly Graham & Associates Market Research Inc. was incorporated.
- May 1: Almost Famous art gallery at Five Points South opened.
- August 3: Robert Hill Custom Tailors opened at 2205 3rd Avenue North.
- Brantley Homes was founded.
- The Collegiate Licensing Company was formed by Bill Battle III.
- Bruce Ayers opened The Comedy Club.
- Ellis Piano was founded.
- Symbol of Excellence Publishers was founded.
- The Jaguar Club was opened by Walter Earl Garfield and Ulysses and Linda Smoot.
- Joel's Restaurant opened in downtown Trussville.
- The first franchise location of Milo's Hamburgers opened on Southside.
- Video Xpress was founded in Bessemer.
Disestablishments
- The Connors Division minimill in Woodlawn was shuttered and sold to SMI Steel.
- The Lincoln Theatre in Bessemer closed.
- Mack's Quick Sack closed.
- The Cabana Hotel closed.
Sports
- The 1983 Birmingham Barons won their first Southern League title since resuming play in 1981.
- The 1983 Birmingham Stallions played their inaugural season at Legion Field, finishing with a 9-9 record.
- October 16: The Alabama-Tennessee game at Legion Field was the first college football game ever broadcast on a pay-per-view basis.
- Bo Jackson rushed for 256 yards to help Auburn to a 23-20 victory over Alabama in the 1983 Iron Bowl at Legion Field.
- West Virginia defeated Kentucky 20-16 in the 1983 Hall of Fame Classic at Legion Field.
- Alabama's Mike Davis was drafted by the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.
- The Birmingham South Stars finished their sole season, losing in the final championship series.
- A new Birmingham Bulls played three games in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League before folding.
- Jack Wood became head football coach at Auburn High School.
- Carl Lewis set a personal best of 19.75 seconds in the 200 meter sprint.
- Bobby Allison won the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship.
- Alabama A&M University beat Alabama State University 27-14 in the Magic City Classic.
- Watson Brown served one season as head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
- Rafael Santana played a season for the St Louis Cardinals.
- Vida Blue was released by the Kansas City Royals.
- David Branch and Linda McLennan won the men's and women's titles at the Vulcan Run.
- Jerome Mincy joined the Puerto Rican national basketball team.
- Lamar Johnson was released by the Texas Rangers.
- Rod Foster was drafted by the Phoenix Suns.
- Ennis Whatley was drafted by the Kansas City Kings.
- Bart Starr coached his final season for the Green Bay Packers, going 8-8.
- Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles went 8-4 and won the Peach Bowl.
- Art Clarkson suggested the idea of Birmingham building a domed stadium.
- Steve Sloan became the head coach at Duke University.
- Wide receiver Mike Jones became an Atlanta Falcon.
- Preston Goldfarb became head coach of the BSC Panthers men's soccer team.
- Ray Perkins led his first Alabama Crimson Tide football team to an 8-4 record.
Works
- "Swordfishtrombone", song by Tom Waits which mentions Birmingham
- Kate Jackson starred in the television drama The Scarecrow and Mrs. King.
- Alexandra, feature film produced by David F. Friedman.
- "The Heaven That I Look For Up Above Had a Hole and I Fell Back to Earth" and "The Mystery of the White in Me", sculptures by Lonnie Holley
- Home Grown Album compilation produced by 95 Rock
- "Wendel", a gay-themed comic strip by Howard Cruse, debuted in the Advocate.
- From the One That Cut You, novelty album featuring T. R. Reed.
- Coming Out, jazz album by pianist Johnny O'Neal.
- Love and Dance and Raw "Live Jazz" Featuring Miss Funky Lu albums by Cleveland Eaton
- Blue Thunder and WarGames, feature films directed by John Badham
- Shadow Waltz, feature film shot in Birmingham
- White Shoes, album by Emmylou Harris
Books
- Birmingham Inside Out by Glory Clark Angell
- Winning Isn't Everything (But it beats anything that comes in second). by Wendell Givens
- Mr Bedford and the Muses by Gail Godwin
- Ninety Years and Counting by Nolan Harmon
- Flashbacks: An Autobiography by Timothy Leary
- Mystery Walk by Robert R. McCammon
- Vampires Unearthed, edited by J. Gordon Melton
- Táticas do signo: semiótica e ideologia by Eduardo Neiva
- Escape the Night, by Richard North Patterson
- Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book by Walker Percy
- Birmingham Bottlers: 1883-1983 by Dennis I. Smith
- True of False? Amazing Art Forgeries by Ann Waldron
- October Journey by Margaret Walker
- Promethean fire: reflections on the origin of mind," by E. O. Wilson
- The University of Alabama: A Pictorial History by Suzanne Wolfe
Buildings
- Bama 6 cinema
- Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 5
- Center Point 6 cinema
- Hoover Public Library (inside the Hoover Municipal Complex)
- Hoover Square 6 cinema
- Interstate 359 was completed.
- Ski Lodge Apartments III
- UAB University Center
- The Larry Lemak residence on Cherokee Road
- McCallum Basic Health Sciences Building
- Expansion of Midfield Theater
- Expansion of Southern Museum of Flight
- Refurbishing of the Jewish Community Center
- Improvements to Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge
- Acquisition of the Ramsay-McCormack building by the City of Birmingham.
- National Register of Historic Places: John A. Hand Building, Woodward Building, Cathedral Church of the Advent, Five Points South Historic District, Redmont Hotel, Loveman, Joseph & Loeb Department Store, Leeds Southern Railroad Depot
- SportPlex on Gadsden Highway in Huffman
- Wal-Mart Cullman Distribution Center
Individuals
- Douglas K. S. Hyland succeeded Richard N. Murray as curator of the Birmingham Museum of Art
- Jim Bob & the Leisure Suits broke up.
- The Calton Phillips Group changed its name to Split the Dark.
- Thomas E. Corts succeeded Leslie Wright as President of Samford University.
- Thomas Hearn was appointed President of Wake Forest University.
- Scholar Roland Frye retired from full-time teaching.
- Ray Melick began covering the Auburn Tigers for the Birmingham Post-Herald.
- Charles W. Ireland retired from the chairmanship of Vulcan Materials.
- Richard Shahan was ordained as a minister at Wedgwood Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas.
- Carl Morton retired from the Hardy Corporation as vice president.
- Frank Bromberg, Garry Neil Drummond, Cleo Thomas, Aaron Aronov and Sandral Hullett were appointed to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees
- Joseph Gayles Jr resigned from Talladega College to return to Morehouse College as vice president of institutional advancement.
Births
- March 6: Virgil Griffith, computer programmer and reality show contestant
- March 18: Michael Richardson, conceptual artist for Birmingham Pledge mural
- March 24: Eric West, baseball player
- April 13: Michael Warren, musician
- April 21: Tarvaris Jackson, football player
- April 24: Taylor Hollingsworth, musician
- May 9: Tyler Lumsden, Birmingham Barons pitcher
- May 11: Brett Burton, founder of Primavera coffee roaster
- May 31: Anthony Cupps, baseball player
- June 15: Michael McClure Jr, pastor of The Rock Church (Fultondale)
- August 7: Darell Hackney, UAB Blazers quarterback
- August 24: Alan Johnson, baseball player
- August 30: Christ Getz, Birmingham Barons infielder
- August 31: Martez Seay, multiple murder suspect
- October 17: James Lang, basketball player
- Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd, executive director of Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering
- Deontée Gordon, president of TechBirmingham
- Navari Jones, drummer
- Christina Karis, actor
- Jamie Langley, 2007 Miss Alabama
- David McKinney, educator
- Haleigh Stidham, 2006 Miss Alabama USA
- Ty West, newspaper editor
- Lauren Wiersma, brewer
Awards
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame: Hooper T. Abrams, Leroy Allen, Leatha Bell, Frank Carpenter, Paul B. Coman, LaVergne Comer, Dolly Brown Gibson, Marcellus Green, Frank Greer, Monroe Kennedy, Robert McCoy, Neal McLean, Bull Simpson, and Jesse Taylor.
- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame: Maxie Baughan, Tom Jenkins, George Lindsey, Billy Neighbors, Gabby Street and Billy Williams.
- Alabama Academy of Honor: Charley Boswell and Harry Brock Jr
- Miss Alabama: Pam Battles
- Miss UAB: Phyllis Pope
- Russ Fine earned tenure as a professor at UAB.
- Pat Dye was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year.
- Hugh Martin was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- Carl Morton was appointed Poet Laureate of Alabama.
Graduations
- Howard Bayless and Jeff Herrod graduated from Banks High School.
- Running back Cornelius Bennett graduated from Ensley High School.
- Greg Canfield completed his B.S. in finance at UAB.
- Career police officer Moody Duff graduated from UAB and joined the UAB Police Department.
- Football player Curt Jarvis graduated from Gardendale High School.
- Organist Gary Jones graduated from Jacksonville State University.
- Vanessa Leonard earned a B.S. in health care accounting from the University of Alabama.
- Rica Lewis-Payton graduated from UAB with a master's in health care management.
- Allan Lowe graduated from Shelby County High School
- Football coach Jim McElwain earned his degree in education from Eastern Washington University.
- Banker and former UAB Blazers athletic director Brian Mackin earned his bachelor's degree in finance at UAB.
- Actor Michael Papajohn graduated from Vestavia Hills High School.
- Tim Ritchie completed his undergraduate degree at Davidson College.
- Samford athletic director Bob Roller graduated from Virginia Tech.
- Bonner Wagnon graduated from Birmingham-Southern College.
- Jimbo Wood graduated from the University of Montevallo.
Deaths
- January 5: Morris Levy, jeweler
- January 26: Bear Bryant, University of Alabama football coach
- February 27: Malcolm McRae went missing and was later found shot to death.
- April 22: John Louis Evans III was executed at the Holman Correctional Facility near Atmore. The sentence was carried out by electric chair.
- May 19: Jerry Young, UAB executive and Sun Belt Conference president
- May 27: Asa Rountree Jr, former Director of the Alabama Department of Aeronautics
- July 12: Rex Winchester, an Irondale Police officer, was killed in the line of duty.
- October 27: R. Hugh Daniel, businessman
- Warren Carlile, restauranteur
- Clarence Hanson Jr, Birmingham News publisher
- Tom Stevens, founder and CEO of the Home Baking Company
- See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1983
Context
In 1983 Annie closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances. Kilauea began erupting on Hawai'i. Björn Borg retired from tennis. The Redskins beat the Dolphins 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII. Seatbelts became mandatory. Iran invaded southeastern Iraq. The first Swatch watches hit the market. President Reagan called the USSR an "evil empire". Michael Jackson performed his first moonwalk. Gandhi won the Best Picture Oscar. Tokyo Disneyland opened. Sally Ride broke the astronaut gender barrier. A Soviet jet shot down Korean Air Flight 007 over Soviet airspace. Tom Brokaw took over the NBC Nightly News anchor desk. Vanessa Williams won the Miss America pageant. The Baltimore Orioles won the World Series. The US Embassy and two Marine barracks were damaged by terrorists in Beirut, Lebanon. The United States invaded Grenada. Microsoft released its "Word" word-processor. Martin Luther King Day became a national holiday. Argentina returned to civilian rule. The Detroit Pistons won a record high-scoring game against the Denver Nuggets, 186-184. Brunei won its independence from the UK. The internet debuted with ARPANET's change to IP addressing.
Notable 1983 births include Kate Bosworth, Carrie Underwood, Jay Cutler, and Vince Young. Deaths in 1983 include those of Karen Carpenter, Tennessee Williams, Hergé, Gloria Swanson, Buckminster Fuller, David Niven, Ira Gershwin, Lépold III of Belgium, Slim Pickens, and Joan Miró. Lech Wałęsa won the Nobel Peace Prize. The top-grossing films of 1983 were The Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment, Flashdance, Trading Places, WarGames and Octopussy. Terms of Endearment dominated the Oscars. Notable books of 1983 included Jackie Collins' Hollywood Wives, Stephen King's Christine and Pet Sematary, and James Michener's Poland. Alice Walker's The Color Purple won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
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