1980 - 1989
Jimmy Carter won the Democratic Presidential Primary in Georgia; Ronald Reagan won the Republican Primary. Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter to become President of the United States. President Ronald Reagan visited Atlanta.
Atlanta Police form a task force and the FBI joins the investigation the murders of Atlanta area children and young adults. Police stopped a car driven by Wayne Williams. After questioning Williams was arrested and charged with the Atlanta Child Murders. A jury found him guilty and the sentence was life in prison.
Ted Turner introduces CNN (Cable News Network) from Atlanta. Turner purchased the MGM library of films. A month after purchasing the library, Turner releases a colorized version of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" starring James Cagney.
Atlanta swelters at 105, the highest temperature on record.
Georgia defeats Notre Dame, 17-10 at the Sugar Bowl, winning the National Title and defeated Texas10 - 9 at the Cotton Bowl. Vince Dooley ends his college coach career with a 34-27 win over Michigan State at the Gator Bowl. Georgia Bulldog running back Herschel Walker appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and won the Heisman trophy.
In Savannah, 21-year old Danny Hansford is shot and killed by Jim Williams, who claimed he was acting in self defense. After four trials, Williams was acquitted. He had a heart attack and died six months later. The story of the murder is the subject of the book and later the movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta first mentions Gay Related Immune Deficiency. The disease became known as AIDS.
Morris Edwin Roberts, Jr. gained access to FBI offices in Atlanta and held 9 employees hostage for three hours before being shot and killed by the FBI Swat Team and the Atlanta Police. No motive was established.
The Home Depot launched its initial public offering on the NASDAQ Exchange.
Andrew Young was elected mayor of Atlanta.
Marta’s Peachtree Center station opened, service was extended to Lenox Mall, Lindbergh Center, Hartsfield Airport and the North-South line began operation. The fare increased to $.85.
A large unpredicted snowfall paralyzed Atlanta and surrounding areas. Snow stranded thousands of afternoon commuters. Record breaking cold weather swept into Georgia. The temperature dipped to -8 degrees in Atlanta, -6 degrees in Macon and 3 degrees in Savannah.
The Weather Channel began broadcasting from Cobb County.
Coca-Cola bought Columbia Pictures from CBS then sold it to Sony. They introduced Diet Coke and New Coke. The latter was met with consumer rejection. The company pulled it and Classic Coke returned.
Hank Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site was created.
U. S. Representative Lawrence "Larry" McDonald from Cobb County was among 269 people killed aboard a Korean Airlines flight shot down by a Soviet MIG over the sea of Japan.
Lillian Carter died.
John A. Sibley Horticultural center and the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center opened at Callaway Gardens.
Bill Elliott won the Daytona 500 and the 1988 Winston Cup point championship.
“Living In America”, the theme from Rocky IV, by James Brown reached number 3 on the charts; he was sentenced to six years in prison on a wide variety of charges.
“Designing Women”, a TV show set in Atlanta debuts on CBS.
The Carter Presidential Museum and Library and the Carter Center east of downtown Atlanta were dedicated.
Delta adopts the slogan "We love to fly, and it shows"
Willie B. is set free at the Zoo Atlanta
The boards of Clark College and Atlanta University consolidated the two and created Clark Atlanta University
While attending the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, Rob Lowe videotaped a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old minor. Michael Dukakis accepts the Democratic Party nomination for president at the convention.
13 golfers were in the first group to be inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
Ground was broken for the Georgia Dome.
“Driving Miss Daisy”, set and filmed in Atlanta opened. “Glory”, a movie about African-American troops during the Civil War shot in Savannah and on Jekyll Island opened.
PEOPLE
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