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2/16/17 – On This Day In Alabama History: The Nation’s First 911 Emergency Phone Call Was Answered In Haleyville

| February 16, 2017 @ 8:45 am

By Graydon RustAlabama 200

February 16, 1968

U.S. Rep. Tom Bevill, in Haleyville, became the first person in the United States to answer a 911 emergency phone call. Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite placed the call from Haleyville City Hall, and Bevill answered from the city’s police station with “Hello.” The phone call, in an attempt by Alabama Telephone Company to be the first to implement the system, occurred only 35 days after AT&T announced plans to use 911 as a nationwide emergency number. The bright red phone used to answer the call is now on display in the lobby of Haleyville City Hall.

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Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorian

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