1960 - 1969
John F. Kennedy was elected President.
The City of Atlanta approves plan to desegregate schools.
Martin Luther King became co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church with his father, "Daddy King". He was arrested for driving without a Georgia license. During a sit-in at a Rich's lunch counter in Atlanta, King was arrested. He was sent to Reidsville (GA) State Prison for parole violation stemming from arrest for driving without a license. Robert Kennedy called Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver seeking his release from Reidsville Prison. King was released. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Martin Luther King was assassinated Memphis, Tennessee. His funeral is held in Atlanta, Georgia. Lester Maddox, governor of the state at the time, refused to close the state government in honor of King or attend the funeral, saying King was an "enemy of the country." The governor additionally stationed 64 riot-helmeted state troopers at the entrances of the capitol to protect "the property of the state."
Coca-Cola received a trademark on the contour bottle and introduced Sprite.
Judge Hooper set the deadline for the desegregation of Atlanta schools.
The crash of a Delta Air Lines Convair CV-880 during a training flight at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta killed 4 people.
Atlanta Motor Speedway held its first NASCAR sanctioned race, the Dixie 300.
Duluth, Alpharetta, Dallas, Lawrenceville ,and Marietta were added to Metro Atlanta telephone calling area and long distance direct dial service went into effect in Atlanta.
Judy Garland appeared at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium.
Young Georgia men are drafted, trained and sent to Viet Nam.
The Diocese of Atlanta became an Archdiocese with the appointment of Most Rev. Paul J. Hallinan, D.D. as archbishop.
The Scenic Railroad , The Skylift, and The Antebellum Plantation opened at Stone Mountain Park. Carving resumed on the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial.
106 members and friends of the Atlanta Art Association began a month-long tour of Europe. All of them perished aboard an Air France jet which crashed during take-off at Orly Airport in Paris, France.
A Louisville and Nashville train carrying nuclear weapons components derailed in Marietta.
President John Kennedy attends the official roll-out of the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter in Marietta. Four months later, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
Atherton's Drug Store downtown Marietta exploded, killing 7 and injuring 34.
Milwaukee Braves owners complete negotiations to move the team to Atlanta and work began on Atlanta Stadium. The team played their first game in front of 51,000 fans. On the 20th of April, 1966, Hank Aaron hits his 400th home run.
A granite overlook on Big Kennesaw Mountain is dedicated to the generals in the battle that were born in Georgia.
A day after the signing of the Civil Rights bill, 5 black ministers visited Pickrick Restaurant, a whites-only establishment. The owner, Lester Maddox was charged with assault, but acquitted. Judge Hooper ordered him to end discrimination at the restaurant or close. Maddox closed the restaurant rather than serve blacks. Lester Maddox ran for governor and defeated Ellis Arnall in a Democratic run-off. No one wins the Election for governor of Georgia. "Bo" Callaway, Republican, wins the popular vote, but, not a majority thanks to Ellis Arnall's third party run for the position. According to Georgia law at the time the legislature must decide the outcome. They choose Democratic segregationist Lester Maddox. Eventually, the U. S. Supreme Court overturns a lower court ruling, permitting the election of the governor of Georgia by a vote in the Georgia legislature.
In Heart of Atlanta v. U. S., The U. S. Supreme Court upheld the Civil Right Act of 1964.
Julian Bond defeated Malcolm Dean in the race for the Georgia House, 136th District.
The National Football League awarded a franchise to Atlanta. Rankin Smith, Jr. paid 8.5 million dollars for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons participated in their first NFL draft, selecting Tommy Nobis as the first-round draft choice. When the AFL and the NFL merge, Atlanta becomes part of the Western Division of the NFL. The Falcons lost their first home game to Los Angeles. After nine losses, they finally won a game defeating the New York Giants.
The Beatles appeared at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Emory University professor Thomas J. J. Altizer is one of 11 theologians to proclaim "God is dead" in a copyrighted article in Time Magazine.
Atlanta, The City Too Busy to Hate erupts in race riots resulting from a century of black oppression.
An FBI memo ordered an investigation into Ralph David Abernathy, who replaced Martin Luther King as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Julian Bond is nominated for Vice-President at the Democratic National Convention.
The Shade , a sculpture by artist Auguste Rodin was donated to the Woodruff Arts Center in memory of the members who died in the airplane crash at Orly Field.
Ruth Eiseman-Schier and Gary Steven Krist were arrested from the kidnapping and burying heiress Barbara Jane Mackle alive in a coffin-like box in Gwinnett County. Mackle was rescued.
The Allman Brothers Band played at Piedmont Park; hippies turned Peachtree and 14th into Atlanta's Haight Ashbury.
Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles.
Man walked on the moon.
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