1998
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1998 was the 127th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.
Events
- January 29: Eric Robert Rudolph detonated a bomb at the New Woman All Women Clinic in Birmingham, killing officer Robert Sanderson and critically injuring nurse Emily Lyons.
- February 5: WBMG 42 relaunched as WIAT with a new news format.
- March 18: All four lanes of I-20/59 North were closed for five days after a 23-ton steel coil bounced down the interstate after falling off a truck.
- April 15: President Clinton viewed tornado damage in Pratt City.
- August 4: The MAPS proposal was defeated by voters.
- September 9: A 22-ton coil punched 17 holes along a section of I-65 South after falling off a truck.
- October: Sloss Fright Furnace debuted.
- The Birmingham Weekly was boycotted in Gardendale.
- The "Crawfish Crawl" 5K run was added to the Crawfish Boil schedule.
- The Birmingham Zoo experienced a record low annual visitorship of 296,102.
- Jesse's Place shelter opened downtown.
- 40,000 attended Do Dah Day
- Pyro Productions began producing Thunder on the Mountain
- Samford University's chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered.
- WTTO 21 joined the WB network and introduced the Dubba Dubba Twins.
- Rock band Brother Cane split up.
- "The Fine Line" with Russ and Dee Fine premiered on WERC-AM
- A bill earmarking a percentage of lodging taxes for the American Village passed the Alabama legislature.
- The first "Perspectives" series exhibit, curated by David Moos, featured Willie Cole.
- Frances Carter founded the American Rosie the Riveter Association.
Business
- Saks, Inc. was formed by merger of Proffitt's Inc. and Saks Fifth Avenue.
- The Bank was formed as a public company.
- RugbyRugby.com was launched.
- John Cassimus launched Big Air Records
- Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds was formed.
- CAC's Gourmet Deli opened.
- David and Jimmy Gorji bought The Store on Highland.
- Tony and Tim Vaziri bought Triple T's.
- Compass Bank made major acquisitions in Florida, Texas and Arizona.
- BancorpSouth Bank and the Peoples Bank and Trust Company entered the Birmingham market.
- The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel became part of the Starwood system.
- Agnes relocated to the Hugh Martin Cottage.
- Fox's Pizza Den opened in Trussville
Media
- WRRS-FM debuted at FM 101.1.
- WRAX-FM moved from FM 105.9 to FM 107.7. Beaner and Ken debuted, and Luka was dropped.
- The first WZZK-AM debuted on AM 610 as a simulcast of WZZK-FM.
- The Rick & Bubba Show debuted in Birmingham.
- Bama Environmental News first published by Pat Byington
Sports
- August 16: Birmingham Barons Demond Smith hit a record two triples vs the Mobile BayBears.
- October: Alabama State University defeated Alabama A&M 34-28 in the Magic City Classic at Legion Field.
- Terrell Owens caught a 25-yard touchdown to give the 49ers the win over the Packers in a wild card playoff matchup.
- The Alabama Gunners hockey team held their sole season.
- The Alabama Saints soccer team held their second season.
- Hubert Green won the Bruno's Memorial Classic
- Vestavia Hills High School won the state 6A football championship.
- The UAB Blazers men's basketball team received an NIT bid.
- Josh Hancock was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the MLB draft.
- 31,897 attended a game between the UAB Blazers and Virginia Tech.
Works
- Birmingham-in-a-Box, novelty board game.
- Floating Away, film directed by John Badham
- Main Street, film shot in Birmingham
Books
- Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge, by E. O. Wilson
- Gone for Good, novel by Mark Childress
- Behind the Stained Glass: a History of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, by Christopher Hamlin
- Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama, by the Jefferson County Historical Commission
- BE&K, Inc., Newcomen Society Address by Ted C. Kennedy and Mike Goodrich
- Shelby Iron - A Celebration of Our History...And a Look to the Future. by the Historic Shelby Association
- Silk, novel by Caitlín R. Kiernan
- Principles of Clinical Electromyography: Case Studies, by Shin Oh
- Welcome to the World, Baby Girl, by Fannie Flagg
- Ransom My Heart, Whisper My Love, Remember My Touch, Honor's Bride, and Never Let Her Go, romance novels by Gayle Wilson
- Beating the Odds, Raising Academically Successful African American Males, by Freeman Hrabowski
- What Became of Wystan: Change and Continuity in Auden’s Poetry. by Alan Jacobs
- Like the Singing Coming Off of Drums: Love Poems, by Sonia Sanchez
- Important Things, by Melissa Springer
- Rejoice, by Mary Ann Sampson
- No Safe Place, novel by Richard North Patterson
Buildings
- Grandview II office building
- Trussville Wastewater Treatment Plant
- McWane Center
- New Hope Baptist Church
- Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
- Visionland
- The Crescent
- Cahaba Pump Station renovation and additions
- Alabama Theatre interior restoration
- Bama 6 and Hoover Square 6 closed
- Trussville Public Library expansion and renovation
- Hewitt-Trussville Junior High was damaged by a sinkhole
- Hewitt-Trussville High School's "Husky Stadium" was renamed for Jack Wood
- Riverchase Galleria renovations
Music
- Gangstabilly, album by the Drive-By Truckers
- Ezra Sims, album by Ezra Sims
- The Heritage of a Black Man, and Lovers Do, albums by Sam Dees
- Wishpool Virgin, album by Brother Cane
- Villa Elaine, album by Remy Zero
- Small Talk, album by Eric Essix
- Serve You, Ma'am, album by Robert Moore and the Wildcats
- Live in the X Lounge debut CD produced by WRAX-FM.
- Phil Collins, the Doobie Brothers, the Gap Band, Ohio Players, Dixie Chicks, Violent Femmes and the Neville Brothers headlined the 1998 City Stages
People
- Don Siegelman won the gubernatorial election.
- Andrew Westmoreland became president of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
- Lonnie Holley was relocated to Harpersville.
- Paul Finebaum was named sports director for WIAT 42.
- Patricia Todd was named Director of Alumni Affairs at UAB.
- Mother Angelica reported a miraculous cure of debilitating problems with her legs.
- Relatives were unable to locate the gravesite of Addie Mae Collins at Greenwood Cemetery.
- Mike Coppage succeeded Johnnie Johnson as chief of the Birmingham Police Department.
- Terrence West began his teaching career for Birmingham City Schools.
- Anthony Barnes became Chairman of the Birmingham Water Works board.
- John Draper became principal of Homewood High School.
- Bill Cleveland became assistant principal of Minor High School.
- Jackie Dye became assistant principal of Shades Valley High School.
- Buddy Gray was elected president of the Alabama Baptist Convention.
- Pat Sullivan resigned as head football coach at Texas Christian University.
Awards
- Birmingham Business Hall of Fame: Wallace R. Bunn, John M. Harbert III, Emil C. Hess, C. Caldwell Marks, Thomas E. Rast, and Joseph E. Volker
- Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame: * Alston Callahan, Tinsley R. Harrison, Sr, Joseph Lister Hill, Jean A. Kelley, John H. Mosteller, Richard Scrushy, et al
- Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett were named to the list of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR History.
- Davey Allison was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
Graduations
- Sandra Gregory from Birmingham School of Law
- Henry Parsley, doctoral degrees from Sewanee and the General Theological Seminary
- Jeremy Brown, from Hueytown High School
- Jared Weinstein, from Mountain Brook High School
Deaths
- January 29: Robert Sanderson killed in abortion clinic bombing
- April 15: Clettus Atkinson, columnist for the Birmingham Post-Herald
- November 30: Margaret Walker, writer, poet
- Samantha (Birmingham Zoo lioness)
- Apach, (Birmingham Police Mounted Patrol horse)
- See also List of Birmingham homicides in 1998
See also
1990s |
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