2012 Event Severe weather hits the U.S. on Christmas Day; more than 30 tornadoes are reported in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana 2012 Event Airbus announces it's plan to invest $600 million to open an assembly plant in Mobile, Alabama 2012 Event Twenty inches of rainfall in Escambia County, Florida damages roadways and bridges, and leaving parts of the Florida Panhandle and coastal Alabama under water 2004 Event Hurricane Ivan hits Alabama and Florida killing nearly 30 1998 Death George Wallace, politician, infamous Alabama governor, dies at 79 1998 Event Woman's Clinic in Birmingham Alabama bombed, 1 killed 1997 Event Tyrenda Williams, 18, of Alabama, crowned 40th America's Junior Miss 1996 Event Troy Davis of Iowa State ran for 378 yards, 3rd highest in college football games (others: Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Alabama) 1995 Event Southern Alabama begins using new area code 334 1994 Event Church in Piedmont Alabama collapses in tornado, 19 killed 1991 Event Blockbuster Bowl 2: Alabama beats Colorado, 30-25 1991 Event L'Express Airlines Beechcraft C-99 crashes in Alabama, killing 13 1989 Event 24th Academy of Country Music Awards: Hank Williams, Jr., Alabama 1987 Event Xignals PC Board BBS begins in Alabama 1987 Event 14th American Music Award: Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Alabama 1987 Event Guy Hunt becomes Alabama's 1st Republican governor since 1874 1986 Event Kenneth and Nellie Pike challenge Alabama Dem runoff win by AG C Graddick 1986 Event Guy Hunt elected 1st Republican governor of Alabama in 112 years 1986 Event 21st Academy of Country Music Awards: G Strait, Alabama, R McEntire 1986 Event George Corley Wallace, Governor, Democrat, Alabama, announces retirement plans 1985 Event Supreme Court strikes down Alabama "moment of silence" law 1985 Event 20th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama and Judds win 1984 Event 18th Country Music Association Award: Alabama wins 1984 Event 19th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama 1983 Event 17th Country Music Association Award: Alabama wins 1983 Event Stephanie Kay Ashmore, of Alabama, 18, crowned America's Junior Miss 1983 Event 18th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama and Willie Nelson 1983 Death Paul "Bear" Bryant, U.S. football coach (Alabama), dies at 69 1983 Death Paul "Bear" Bryant, college football coach (Alabama), dies at 69 1983 Event Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, becomes governor for record 4th time 1982 Event Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant ends his career with Alabama (323 wins) 1982 Birthday Lucas Black, born in Decatur, Alabama, actor, appeared in film, 'Sling Blade', 'Jarhead', 'Friday Night Lights' and television series, 'American Gothic' 1982 Event Stephabue Hix, of Alabama, 18, crowned Miss National Teen-Ager 1982 Event 17th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama, Barbara Mandrell 1980 Event Alabama beats Arkansas in Sugar Bowl for college football championship 1979 Event Hurricane Frederick hits Mobile Alabama; 5 die and $23 million damage 1979 Birthday Luann Roberts, Miss Alabama Teen USA 1996 1979 Birthday Tara Tucker, Miss Alabama Teen USA 1997 1977 Birthday Shaun Alexander, born in Florence, Kentucky, football, running back, played college football at University of Alabama, drafted by Seattle Seahawks, placed 19th overall in 2000 National Football League Draft 1977 Event Former AG John Mitchell starts 19 months in Alabama prison 1977 Birthday Amber Benson, born in Birmingham, Alabama, known for playing Tara Maclay on television show, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', produced, starred in film, 'Chance' 1975 Event 42nd Sugar Bowl: Alabama 13 beats Penn State 6 1975 Birthday Scott Tucker, Birmingham, Alabama, 400m/800m freestyle relay 1996 Olympics 1974 Birthday Alison McCreary, Florence Alabama, Miss America, Alabama-4th-1997 1973 Event 40th Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 24 beats Alabama 23 1973 Birthday John Zimmerman, Birmingham, Alabama, pairs skater, & Steigler 1973 Event Alabama sets offensive record (828 yards), beats Virginia Tech 77-6 1973 Birthday Leigh Sherer, Jasper Alabama, Miss America, Alabama-Top 10-1996 1973 Birthday Terry Adams, born in Mobile, Alabama, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs 1972 Event "December Giant" largest sinkhole in U.S. collapses (Alabama) 1972 Event Arthur Bremer jailed for 63 years for shooting Alabama Governor Wallace 1972 Event Assassination attempt on governor George Wallace of Alabama 1972 Birthday Mia Hamm, born in Selma, Alabama, soccer forward 1996 Olympics 1971 Birthday Erick Walder, Mobile Alabama, triple jumper 1970 Birthday Benita Brooks, Miss Alabama USA 1996 1970 Birthday Nick Castaneda, Birmingham, Alabama, pairs skater, & Dawn Piepenbrink 1969 Birthday Bryant H. McGill, born in Mobile, Alabama, editor, author, celebrity publicist, creator, celebrity verification group, books include the 'McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme' 1969 Birthday Richard Fletcher Pride III, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, PGA golfer, 1994 Fed Exp 1968 Birthday Mark Lenzi, born in Huntsville, Alabama, diver 1996 Olympics bronze 1968 Death Lurleen Burns, wife of George Wallace/Governor of Alabama, dies at 41 1968 Birthday LeShundra Nathan, born in Birmingham, Alabama, heptathlete 1968 Birthday Donna D'Errico, born in Dothan, Alabama, playmate, Sep, 1995 1967 Birthday Mike Mordecai, Birmingham, Alabama, infielder, Atlanta Braves 1966 Birthday Dave Veres, born in Montgomery, Alabama, pitcher for the Montreal Expos 1966 Birthday Resga Riggins, Trussville Alabama, Miss Alabama-America 1991 1966 Event -27 degrees F (-33 degrees C), New Market, Alabama (state record) 1965 Event Vivian Malone, is 1st black to graduate from University of Alabama 1965 Birthday Hal Morris, born in Fort Rucker, Alabama, infielder for the Cincinnati Reds 1965 Event Martin Luther King, Jr. led 25,000 to state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama 1965 Event Martin Luther King, Jr. begins march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama 1965 Event Alabama state troopers and 600 black protestors clash in Selma 1965 Event Martin Luther King, Jr. and 700 demonstrators arrested in Selma, Alabama 1964 Birthday Ned Vaughn, born in Huntsville, Alabama, actor, television and films include 'Apollo 13', 'Frost Nixon', '24' and 'Criminal Minds' 1964 Birthday Lillie Leatherwood, born in Northport, Alabama, 4X400m relayer 1984 Olympics gold 1964 Birthday Courtney Cox, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actress, Family Ties, Monica-Friends 1964 Birthday Courteney Cox, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actress, known for playing Monica on 'Friends' television sitcom, appeared in 'Cougar Town' television series, films include 'Scream' 1963 Birthday Michael Lofton, Montgomery, Alabama, fencer-sabre 1996 Olympics 1963 Event 20 black students entered public schools in Alabama 1963 Event Alabama Governor George Wallace served a federal injunction to stop orders of state police to bar black students from enrolling in white schools 1963 Birthday Dave Brantley, born in Florence, Alabama, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds 1963 Event Alabama Governor George C. Wallace prevents integration of Tuskegee HS 1963 Birthday Kimberley Conrad Hefner, born in Moulton, Alabama, playmate of year, Jan, 1988 1963 Event Governor Wallace tries to prevent blacks registering at University of Alabama 1963 Event Race riot in Birmingham Alabama 1963 Event Racial bomb attacks in Birmingham Alabama 1963 Birthday Julia Campbell, born in Huntsville, Alabama, actress, Opportunity Knocks 1963 Event George C. Wallace sworn in as governor of Alabama, his address states "segregation now; segregation tomorrow; segregation forever!" 1962 Birthday Nancy Ramsbottom, born in Birmingham, Alabama, LPGA golfer, 1994 McCall's-2nd 1962 Birthday Jensen Buchanan, born in Montgomery, Alabama, actress, Vicky/Marley-Another World 1961 Event Federal judge rules that Birmingham, Alabama, laws against integrated playing fields are illegal 1961 Birthday Alonzo Babers, born in Montgomery, Alabama, 400m/4X400m relay, Gold Medal 1984 Olympics 1961 Birthday Jensen Buchanan, Montgomery, Alabama, actress, Vicky/Marley-Another World 1961 Birthday Carl Lewis, born in Birmingham, Alabama, American Athlete 1961 Event White mob attacks "Freedom Riders" in Montgomery, Alabama 1961 Event Bus with 1st group of Freedom Riders bombed and burned in Alabama 1961 Birthday Jimmy Key, born in Huntsville, Alabama, pitcher, Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Orioles 1960 Birthday Stephen Brent Lowery, Birmingham, Alabama, PGA golfer, 1994 Sprint 1959 Event 1st Liberty Bowl game-Penn State beats Alabama 7-0 1959 Birthday Kathryn P Hire, Mobile Alabama, Lieutenant Commander USN/astronaut, sk: STS-90 1959 Birthday Bill McCorvey, born in Montgomery, Alabama, singer, Pirates of Miss-Fred Jake 1958 Birthday Julie Gholson, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actress, Where the Lilies Bloom 1958 Birthday Brett Butler, born in Montgomery, Alabama, comedienne, Grace-Grace Under Fire 1956 Birthday Mae C Jemison, Decatur Alabama, MD/astronaut, STS-47 1956 Event 1st state-wide, state-supported educational TV network, Alabama 1956 Event Pirates and Kansas City A's cancel an exhibition game in Birmingham Alabama, because of local ordinance barring black from playing against white 1956 Event Autherine Lucy, 1st black admitted to University of Alabama, is expelled 1956 Event University of Alabama refuses admission to Autherine Lucy (because he's black) 1956 Event Autherine J Lucy admitted to University of Alabama, suspended 2/7 after a riot 1955 Event Historic bus boycott begins in Montgomery Alabama by Rosa Parks 1955 Event Alabama woman bruised by a meteor 1955 Event 20.33" (51.64 cm) of rainfall, Axis, Alabama (state record) 1954 Birthday Condredge Holloway, Alabama, CFL quarterback, Ottawa, Toronto 1953 Event Birmingham Alabama, bars Jackie Robinson's Negro-White All-Stars from playing there Robinson gives in and drops white players from his group 1953 Birthday Ron Jackson, born in Birmingham, Alabama, professional baseball player, played Major League Baseball, hitting coach for Boston Red Sox, 2003 - 2006 1953 Event WCOV TV channel 20 in Montgomery, Alabama (IND/CBS) begins broadcasting 1953 Birthday Robert Brazile, born in Mobile, Alabama, football player, linebacker, played for National Football League's Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs, nicknamed 'Dr. Doom', named 1975's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1952 Birthday Kathryn C Thornton, Montgomery, Alabama, PhD/astronaut, STS-33, 49, 61, 73 1952 Event Tornadoes in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky cause 343 deaths 1952 Birthday Teddy Gentry, Fort Payne, Alabama, country music star, Alabama - Mountain Music 1951 Birthday Ransom Wilson, Tuscaloosa Alabama, flutist, Soliste New York 1950 Birthday Pat Swindall, born in Gadsden, Alabama, Representative-R-Georgia 1985 - 1989 1950 Birthday Lionel Richie, born in Alabama, singer, Commodores, Hello, Penny Lover 1949 Birthday Randy Owen, Fort Payne, Alabama, country music star, Alabama - Mountain Music 1949 Birthday Terry Lee Johnson, Alabama, murderer, FBI Most Wanted List 1949 Birthday Jeff Cook, Fort Payne, Alabama, country guitar/vocalist, Alabama - Mountain Music 1949 Birthday James S. Voss, born Cordova, Alabama, Major USA/astronaut, STS-44, 53, 69 1949 Birthday William King, Alabama, soul trumpeteer, Commodores-Easy 1948 Birthday Kate Jackson, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actress, Rookies, Charlie's Angels 1948 Birthday Nell Carter, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actress, Nell-Gimme a Break, Lobo 1947 Birthday Robert E. Cramer, born in Huntsville, Alabama, Representative-D-Alabama 1991 - 2009 1947 Birthday Emmylou Harris, born in Birmingham, Alabama, country singer, Together Again 1947 Birthday Sanford Bishop, born in Mobile, Alabama, Representative-D-Georgia 1993 - 1946 Birthday Hubie Green, Birmingham, Alabama, PGA golfer, U.S. Open 1977 1944 Birthday Fannie Flagg, Birmingham, Alabama, actress/comediene, Candid Camera 1944 Event Race riots in Athens Alabama 1944 Birthday J R Cobb, Birmingham, Alabama, rocker, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Classic IV 1943 Event Riot at Mobile Alabama shipyard over upgrading 12 black workers 1943 Birthday Toni Tennille, Montgomery, Alabama, female Beachboy, Captain and Tennille 1942 Birthday Melvin Franklin, Montgomery Alabama, rocker, Temptations 1942 Birthday Willie D. Davenport, born in Troy, Alabama, 110m hurdler, Gold Medal 1968 Olympics 1942 Birthday Tammy Wynette, Redbay Alabama, country singer, Stand by your Man 1942 Birthday Earl F. Hilliard, born in Birmingham, Alabama, Representative-D-Alabama 1993 - 2003 1942 Birthday Mitch McConnell, born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Senator-R-Kentucky 1985 - 1941 Birthday Jackson Hill, born in Birmingham, Alabama, composer, vocal music, teacher, Ph.D. Musicology, teacher, Duke University, Bucknell University 1941 Birthday Wilson Pickett, born in Prattville, Alabama, R&B singer, Funky Broadway 1941 Birthday Van Dyke Parks, Alabama, actor/musician, Bonino, Billy Crystal Hour 1940 Birthday John Lewis, born in Troy, Alabama, Representative-D-Georgia 1987 - 1939 Birthday Eddie Kendricks, Alabama, rocker, Temptations-My Girl, Boogie Down 1939 Birthday Jim Yester, born in Birmingham, Alabama, rock vocalist and guitarist, Association 1937 Birthday Albert Hall, Boothton Alabama, actor, Trouble in Mind, Ryan's 4 1937 Birthday Ronnie Flippo, born in Florence, Alabama, Representative-D-New York 1977 - 1991 1937 Birthday Polly Holliday, born in Jasper, Alabama, actress, Flo-Alice, Flo-Flo 1937 Birthday Jimmy Jones, born in Birmingham, Alabama, African-American rocker, singer, songwriter, performed with doo-wop group The Berliners, wrote 'Handy Man' recorded by the Sparks of Rhythm 1937 Birthday Terry Everett, born in Dothan, Alabama, Representative-R-Alabama 1993 - 2009 1935 Birthday Eddie Floyd, born in Montgomery, Alabama, singer/composer, California Girl, Falcons 1934 Birthday Louise Fletcher, Birmingham, Alabama, actress, One Flew over Cuckoo's Nest 1934 Birthday Richard Shelby, born in Birmingham, Alabama, Representative-D-Alabama 1979 - 1987, Senator-D-Alabama 1987- 1934 Birthday Hank Aaron, born in Mobile, Alabama, baseball player, record 755 home runs, 1957 NL MVP 1933 Birthday Henry Hartsfield, Jr., Birmingham, Alabama, astro, STS-4, STS 41-D, STS 61A 1933 Birthday Wayne Rogers, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actor, M*A*S*H, House Calls, Chiefs 1932 Birthday Clifton C Williams, Jr., Mobile Alabama, Major USMC/astronaut 1932 Birthday Sonny Callahan, born in Mobile, Alabama, Representative-R-Alabama 1985 - 2003 1932 Birthday Otis Crandell Davis, Alabama, 400m/4X400m relayer 1960 Olympics gold 1931 Event Scottsboro Boys (accused of raping a white woman) arrested in Alabama 1930 Birthday Odetta, Holmes, Birmingham, Alabama, folk singer, Sanctuary 1929 Birthday Autherine Lucy, 1st black to enroll in University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa 1928 Birthday Ezra Sims, born in Birmingham, Alabama, composer of microtonal music, Joseph Maneri adopted his system of notation, composed in quarter tones, received Guggenheim Fellowship 1927 Birthday Coretta Scott King, born in Marion, Alabama, civil rights leader 1926 Birthday Bill Justis, born in Birmingham, Alabama, musician, musical arranger, rock and roll pioneer, celebrated for Grammy Hall of Fame song "Raunchy" and Australian hit "Tamoure" 1926 Event Hurricane in Florida and Alabama, kills 372 1926 Birthday Earl Dewitt Hutto, born in Midland City, Alabama, Representative-D-Florida 1979 - 1995 1925 Event 112 F (44 degrees C), Centerville, Alabama (state record) 1925 Birthday William Louis Dickinson, born in Opelika, Alabama, Representative-R-Alabama 1965 - 1993 1924 Birthday Jeremiah Denton, born in Mobile, Alabama, Senator-R-Alabama, 1981 - 1986 1924 Birthday Ira Louvin, born in Rainsville, Alabama, country singer, Louvin Brothers 1922 Event 1st living person identified on a U.S. coin (Thomas E Kirby) on the Alabama Centennial half-dollar 1921 Birthday Tom Bevill, born in Townley, Alabama, Representative-D-Alabama 1967 - 1997 1920 Birthday Marjorie S. Holt, born in Birmingham, Alabama, Representative-R-Maryland 1973 - 1987 1920 Event Tornadoes kill 219 in Alabama and Mississippi 1920 Event Tornadoes killed 219 people in Alabama and Mississippi 1918 Birthday John Baragrey, born in Haleyville, Alabama, actor, Creeper, Colossus of New York 1917 Birthday R G Armstrong, born in Birmingham, Alabama, actor, T.H.E. Cat 1917 Birthday Davis Roberts, born in Mobile, Alabama, actor, Mr. Johnson-Boone 1916 Birthday Walker Percy, Birmingham, Alabama, writer, Adventures of a Bad Catholic 1914 Birthday Lucille Benson, born in Scottsboro, Alabama, actress, Lilly-Bosom Buddies 1913 Birthday William Lehman, born in Selma, Alabama, Representative-D-Florida 1973 - 1993 1913 Birthday Paul "Bear" Bryant, U.S. football coach, Alabama Crimson Tide 1913 Birthday David Donald Albritton, born in Danville, Alabama, high jumper 1936 Olympics silver 1913 Birthday Mel Allen, born in Birmingham, Alabama, sportscaster, voice of New York Yankees 1911 Birthday Gail Patrick, Birmingham, Alabama, actress, My Man Godfrey, Love Crazy 1909 Event Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver organizes in Mobile Alabama 1907 Event Explosion at Yolande Alabama, coal mine kills 91 1903 Birthday Paul Page, Birmingham, Alabama, actor, Girl From Havana, Moth 1902 Birthday Philip Ober, born in Fort Payne, Alabama, actor, General Stone-I Dream of Jeannie 1901 Birthday Robert Van de Graaff, Alabama, physicist, Mobility of Gaseous Ions 1900 Birthday Claude Pepper, born in Dudleyville, Alabama, Representative-D-Florida 1963 - 1989, Senator-D-Florida 1936 - 1951 1899 Birthday John Sparkman, born in Hartselle, Alabama, Senator-D-Alabama 1946 - 1979 1890 Event Alabama Penny Savings Bank organizes in Birmingham 1888 Birthday Hank Patterson, Alabama, actor, Gunsmoke, Fred Ziffel-Green Acres 1886 Birthday Hugo L. Black, born in Alabama, Senator-D-Alabama, 78th Supreme Court justice, 1937 - 1971 1884 Event Tornadoes in Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana kill 800 people 1883 Event Alabama becomes 1st U.S. state to enact an antitrust law 1881 Event Booker T. Washington establishes Tuskegee Institute in Alabama 1878 Birthday Henry B. Walthall, born in Shelby City, Alabama, actor, Birth of a Nation, Klondike 1873 Birthday W[illiam] C[hristopher] Handy, Alabama, jazz star, St. Louis Blues 1871 Event English - U.S. treaty ends Alabama dispute 1871 Event Meeting of Alabama claims commission 1868 Event 1st U.S. parade with floats (Mardi Gras-Mobile Alabama) 1867 Event Blacks vote in municipal election in Tuscumbia, Alabama 1866 Event President Johnson ends war in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia 1865 Event Battle of Citronville, Alabama; Richard Taylor surrenders 1865 Event Battle of Mobile, Alabama 1865 Event Mobile, Alabama is captured 1865 Event Battle of Mobile, Alabama - evacuated by Confederates 1865 Event Federals capture Ft. Blakely, Alabama 1865 Event Battle of Mobile, Alabama (Spanish Fort, Fort Morgan, Fort Blakely) 1865 Event Raid at Wilson's: Chickaswas, Alabama to Macon, Georgia 1865 Event Battle of Wilson's raid to Selma, Alabama 1864 Event Bread riots in Mobile, Alabama 1864 Event Union troops/fleet occupy Fort Morgan, Alabama 1864 Event Union troops/fleet occupy Fort Gaines, Alabama 1864 Event CSS "Alabama" sunk by USS "Kearsarge" off Cherbourg, France 1864 Event Confederate warship CSS Alabama runs into harbor of Cherbourg 1864 Event Naval Engagement at Cherbourg, FR: USS Kearsage vs. CSS Alabama 1863 Event Bread revolt in Mobile Alabama 1863 Event CSS "Alabama" captures "Tailsman" in Mid Atlantic 1863 Event Naval engagement near Galveston between CSS Alabama and USS Hatteras 1862 Event Confederate cruiser The Alabama runs aground near London 1861 Event Union blockades New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile Alabama 1861 Event Confederate President Jefferson Davis inaugurated at Montgomery Alabama 1861 Event Confederate States of America organizes in Montgomery, Alabama 1861 Event Confederate constitutional convention meets for 1st time in Montgomery, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina elect Jefferson Davis President of Confederacy 1861 Event Alabama becomes 4th state to secede 1861 Event Alabama troops seize Forts Morgan and Gaines at Mobile Bay 1861 Event U.S. Ft. Morgan, Mobile, seized by Alabama 1847 Birthday W R Pettiford, Founder, Alabama Penny Savings Bank 1841 Event Alabama becomes 1st state to license dental surgeons 1819 Event Alabama admitted to Union as 22nd state 1817 Event Mississippi Territory is divided into Alabama Territory and Mississippi 1807 Event Vice President Aaron Burr arrested in Alabama for treason; later found innocent
