Mayor Larry Langford proposes renaming Birmingham International Airport for Fred ShuttlesworthFred Shuttlesworth International Airport would honor icon, black leaders say Wednesday, June 25, 2008JOSEPH D. BRYANT and GREG GARRISONNews staff writers Mayor Larry Langford wants the Birmingham International Airport renamed for the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a minister who helped spark the civil rights movement in the city. Langford made the suggestion at Tuesday's City Council meeting. He will meet with members of the airport authority board today to discuss the details. "For the civil rights icon, there is no greater honor this city could give him than to make the Birmingham International Airport the Fred Shuttlesworth International Airport," Langford said. "I can't think of anyone outside of Dr. King who did more to change the climate in Birmingham, Alabama, than Rev. Shuttlesworth." Now 86, Shuttlesworth had been living in Cincinnati until he moved back to Birmingham this year to undergo rehabilitation after suffering a stroke last year. Told of Langford's proposal, Shuttlesworth's wife, Sephira, quoted him as responding: "I'd love that." Sephira Shuttlesworth said she, too, approved. "I think its is an appropriate venue because traveling was a part of his calling, and he wanted to wear out, not rust out." The City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the name change. "Rev. Shuttlesworth is worthy of one of our highest honors because of his lifelong commitment to Birmingham," said Council President Carole Smitherman, who proposed the resolution. Smitherman said the name change fits well in Birmingham's celebrated civil rights heritage and the increased interest in the role the city played in ridding the country of legalized segregation. "It's a part of our heritage," she said. Councilman Steven Hoyt, who is also a member of the airport board, called the mayor's idea noble, but said more research is needed to determine the cost of rebranding the airport. "Anytime there's a name change, there's a cost associated with it," Hoyt said. "We're in the process of modernizing the entire airport. There's a lot of cost with that. After the meeting we'll know something more definitive about the proposal."
I have never heard of the guy. He may have done great things in Birmingham, AL...I don't know. However, anyone opposed to this for any reason will be labeled a racist.
Give the old dude a street somewhere downtown. MLK gets a street in every town. An airport is huge stuff. Was this guy bigger than the King?
I have never heard of the guy.
Racist.I just wanted to be the first to cast the mahfuckin stone.
Glass crib liva
Doesn't Jefferson county have a lot of missing money that they should more concerned about?
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