Tuskaloosa ( - 1540) A chief of the Choctaw tribe who is famous for leading a battle against conquistador Hernando de Soto. Born in What is now Tuscaloosa, AL (14) Osceola (1804 - 1838) Seminole Indian leader. Born as Billy Powell, he became an influential leader of the Seminole in Florida. Born in Tallassee, AL (93) Henry Louis (Hank) Aaron (1934 - ) One of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball. Broke Babe Ruth's home run record in 1974 with 755 home runs. His record stood until 2007. He remains baseball's career leader for runs batted in. Born in Mobile, AL (1) Richard Jr. Arrington (1934 - ) Was the first African American mayor of the city of Birmingham, Alabama (U.S.), serving 20 years, from 1979 to 1999. Born in Livingston, AL (812) Mary Badham (1952 - ) An American actress, known for her portrayal of Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the time, Badham (age 10) was the youngest actress ever nominated in this category. Born in Birmingham, AL (815) Hank Ballard (1927 - 2003) Born John Henry Kendricks, was a rhythm and blues singer, the lead vocalist of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and one of the first proto-rock 'n' roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s. Born in Bessemer, AL (816) Amber Nicole Benson (1977 - ) An American actress, writer, film director, and film producer. Born in Birmingham, AL (817) Martha McChesney Berry (1865 - 1942) Was an United States educator and the founder of Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Born in Jackson County, AL (1184) Bobby Bowden (1929 - ) Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons. One of the winningest coaches in the history of major college football. Born in Birmingham, AL (818) Pat Buttram (1915 - 1994) Born Maxwell Emmett Buttram he was an American actor, best known for playing the sidekick of Gene Autry and the character of Mr. Haney in the TV series Green Acres. Born in Addison, AL (820) Nell Ruth Carter (1948 - 2003) Born Nell Ruth Hardy, she was an American singer, and film, stage, and television actress. Born in Birmingham, AL (821) Reginald E. Cathey (1958 - ) An American stage, film and television actor. Born in Huntsville, AL (822) Nathaniel Adams "Nat King" Cole (1917 - 1965) Popular singer known as the man with the velvet voice and song "Unforgettable". First known as a jazz pianist. One of the first African Americans to host a television variety show. Born in Montgomery, AL (2) Louise Fletcher (1934 - ) An Academy Award winning American actress best known for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Born in Birmingham, AL (823) Tod Griffin (1919 - 2002) Born as Arthur Griffin, he was an American actor of stage, film, and television. Born in Birmingham, AL (824) Emmylou Harris (1947 - ) An American country singer-songwriter and musician. Born in Birmingham, AL (867) | Taylor Reuben Hicks (1976 - ) An American singer who achieved fame in 2006, when he won the fifth season of American Idol. Born in Birmingham, AL (825) Polly Dean Holliday (1937 - ) An American actress. She has successfully appeared on stage, television and in film. She is best remembered for her portrayal of sassy waitress "Flo" on the 1970s sitcom Alice. Born in Jasper, AL (826) Kate Jackson (1948 - ) Born Lucy Kate Jackson, she is an American actress, director, and producer. Best known for her role in the 1970s TV series Charlie's Angels. Born in Birmingham, AL (827) Mae Jemison (1956 - ) An American physician and NASA astronaut. She was the first African-American woman in space. She flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Born in Decatur, AL (4) Dean Carroll Jones (1931 - ) An American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, including The Love Bug and That Darn Cat! Born in Decatur, AL (828) Helen Keller (1880 - 1968) An American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. Born in Tuscumbia, AL (5) Coretta Scott King (1927 - 2006) An American author, activist, and civil rights leader. The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Born in Marion, AL (868) Harper Lee (1926 - ) Born Nelle Harper Lee. She is best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature. It is her only published book. Born in Monroeville, AL (6) Carl Lewis (1961 - ) Born Frederick Carlton Lewis. He won 10 Olympic medals and 10 World Championships in track and field. His career spanned from 1979 to 1996. Born in Birmingham, AL (15) Joe Louis (1914 - 1981) Born Joseph Louis Barrow. World heavyweight boxing champion (1937 - 1949). Considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber. Born in LaFayette, AL (279) Willie Howard Mays, Jr (1931 - ) Former professional baseball player. Shares the record of most All-Star Games played. Possibly the greatest all-around baseball player of all-time. Born in Westfield, AL (8) Jesse Owens (1913 - 1980) Born James Cleveland Owens. Track & Field athlete. Winner of four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics which made him one of the best remembered athletes in Olympic history. Born in Oakville, AL (9) Rosa Parks (1913 - 2005) Civil rights leader who refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. Called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement" by the U.S. Congress. Born in Tuskegee, AL (7) Heather Leigh Whitestone (1973 - ) Heather Leigh Whitestone became the first deaf Miss America on September 17th, 1994. She is now an author and motivational speaker. Born in Dothan, AL (753) Hank Williams (1923 - 1953) Born Hiram King Williams, Sr. He was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is regarded as one of the most significant and influential singers and songwriters of the 20th Century. Born in Georgiana, AL (11) Paul Williams (1939 - 1973) An American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations. Born in Birmingham, AL (965) |
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