1975
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1975 was the 104th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.
Events
- February: The first meeting of the Birmingham Citizens Advisory Board was held.
- June 23–29: Birmingham hosted the premier of the Thornton Wilder classic “The Skin of Our Teeth” by American Bicentennial Theatre at the BJCC Theater.
- October 23–25: Spirit of Labor Festival was held at Western Hills Mall.
- The Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences was established at UAB.
- American Revolution Bicentennial celebrations began to be held.
- The Birmingham Festival of Arts celebrated a Salute to Brazil.
- Birmingham University School merged with Brooke Hill School for Girls to form the Altamont School.
- Dora High School began awarding the "Andrews Award" to graduating senior athletes.
- The first phase of revitalizing Highland Avenue began.
- Indian Springs School became coeducational.
- Mercy Hospital was re-named Cooper Green Hospital
Business
- September: Mr P's Deli opened in Bluff Park.
- November: O'Carr's started in Homewood as an ice cream parlor.
- Alabama Outdoors was founded.
- Bank of Alabama was founded as Fultondale's first bank.
- The Book Rack opened in Roebuck.
- Century Plaza opened in Eastwood.
- Mortgage Corporation of the South was spun off from Cobbs, Allen, and Hall.
- Harry Crawford purchased what became The Flagman in Columbiana business.
- Dale's Cellar restaurant moved to the Essex House.
- Oak Grove Mine was opened by U. S. Steel in Adger.
- Investment banking firm Porter, White & Company was founded.
- Vincent Joseph Sazera bought East Side Barbecue and renamed it VJ's on the Runway.
- Alternative newspaper Southern Style began publication.
- Stancil R. Starnes and his son, Stan Starnes, co-founded the firm of Starnes & Starnes.
- U. S. Steel began shutting down the Ensley Works.
- The Birmingham location of Victoria Station restaurant opened.
- Vinyl-Mark Products Inc. was founded.
Government
- Mayor of Hoover O. E. Braddock died in office; John Hodnett was appointed to finish the term.
- Earl Hilliard began his term in the Alabama house.
- Thomas Stubbs ended his run as Alabama State Senator.
- David Vann succeeded George Seibels as Mayor of Birmingham.
Sports
- January: The WFL revoked the Birmingham Americans' franchise.
- July–October: The Birmingham Vulcans played their only season with the WFL.
- November 27: The first Vulcan Run took place under the name "Bicentennial Run".
- November 29: Alabama defeated Auburn in the Iron Bowl, 28–0.
- Coach Robert Higginbotham led the Mountain Brook Spartans to the state football championship.
- Shug Jordan retired as Auburn University's head football coach.
- Legion Field's Poly-Turf was replaced with AstroTurf.
- Tiny Lund is killed in the running of the Talladega 500 in a seventh lap crash.
- The Birmingham A's folded.
Works
Albums
- Elite Hotel by Emmylou Harris
- Pieces of the Sky by Emmylou Harris, including "Boulder to Birmingham"
Books
- The House on Pendleton Block by Ann Waldron
- The Integration of Mary-Larkin Thornhill by Ann Waldron
- Sociobiology: The New Synthesis by E. O. Wilson
Buildings
- Century Plaza
- Clarion Hotel
- Hyatt House Birmingham Hotel
- Palmer Norris Center
- Pelham City Hall
- Red Cross Building renovations and expansion
Film
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest featuring Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched
- The film version of Stay Hungry was shot in Birmingham.
Individuals
- Paul Bailey became acting president of Birmingham-Southern College.
- Radio DJ Greg Bass joined Boutwell Studios.
- Bo Berry joined the jazz group Alpaca Phase III.
- Tommy Charles returned to WSGN-AM, co-hosting the T. C. and John Ed morning show with newcomer John Ed Willoughby.
- Don Cornutt became principal of Homewood Middle School.
- Russ Fine was recruited to UAB by the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
- Frank Fleming returned to the University of Alabama as an artist in residence.
- Vince Gibson became head football coach at the University of Louisville.
- Juliet Lovoy became chef of Lovoy's Italian Restaurant.
- Lou Marini joined the Saturday Night Live house band.
- Pat Morrow succeeded Freddie Pollard as the director of the Homewood High School band.
- Wayne Rogers left the TV show M*A*S*H after three seasons.
- Master engraver Bob Rosser received a book called "The Art of Engraving".
Births
- April 7: Kenya Marshall, attorney
- April 14: Avner Dorman, composer
- August 29: André Natta, publisher
- September 2: Cedric Sparks, Birmingham Department of Youth Services director
- October 6: Koundu, gorilla
- November 1: Bo Bice, rock musician
- Melanie Bouyer, Mayor of Lipscomb
- Walton Creel, artist
- Matthew Dent, businessman
- Corey McKern, opera singer
- Larry Rackley, painter
- Brandee Skinner
- Tommie Watkins, AIDS activist
Awards
- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame: Paul Grist, William Hitchcock, Frank House, Zipp Newman, Euil Snider, Travis Tidwell, Pat Trammell, and George Wallace
- Miss Alabama: Susie Vaughn
- Mr Crestwood: Murry Davis
Graduations
- Robert Baker from Gregorian University, graduate degree in dogmatic theology
- John L. Carroll from Harvard University, master of laws
- Alan Jacobs from Banks High School
- James Jones from the University of Alabama Law Enforcement Academy
- J. Gordon Melton from Northwestern University, Ph.D. in the History and Literature of Religions
- Pat Moore from UAB, Bachelor's in accounting
- Samantha Shaw from Homewood High School
Deaths
- See also: List of homicides in 1975
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