In this photograph from the Feb. 9, 1968 issue of the “Daily Northwest Alabamian,” B.W. Gallagher (left), president of the Alabama Telephone Co., displays the bright red telephone that was installed at the Haleyville, Alabama, police station to receive the first 9-1-1 call. In the middle is Haleyville mayor James Whitt, and on the right is Robert Normal, commercial manager of ATC. (Courtesy City of Haleyville)
The city of Haleyville in northwestern Alabama holds the distinction of being the home of the very first 9-1-1 call in our country’s history. Hopefully, very few of our readers have had to make that call, but the history of how it all came about is interesting to learn.
On February 18, 1968, state Representative Rankin Fite placed the very first 9-1-1 call from the office of Haleyville Mayor James Whitt. The phone call was answered by the United States Representative Tom Bevill at the Haleyville police station. At Bevill’s side was B.W. Gallagher, president of the Alabama Telephone Co. and Bull Connor, head of Alabama’s Public Service Commission.
According to NENA The 9-1-1 Association, “The three-digit telephone number ‘9-1-1’ has been designated as the ‘Universal Emergency Number,’ for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance.” An emergency telephone number was first proposed in 1957 when the National Association of Fire Chiefs recommended action being taken. In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that a single, universal phone number should be established across the country for reporting emergencies.
“The code 9-1-1 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved…It met public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered, and can be dialed quickly…and it is a unique number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code, or service code, it best met the long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry” states the NENA website.
The 9-1-1 Association examines the importance of the 9-1-1 telephone number on their website. “The intense interest in the concept of 9-1-1 can be attributed primarily to the recognition of characteristics of modern society, i.e., increased incidences of crimes, accidents, and medical emergencies, inadequacy of existing emergency reporting methods, and the continued growth and mobility of the population.”
According to NENA The 9-1-1 Association, “The three-digit telephone number ‘9-1-1’ has been designated as the ‘Universal Emergency Number,’ for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance.” An emergency telephone number was first proposed in 1957 when the National Association of Fire Chiefs recommended action being taken. In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that a single, universal phone number should be established across the country for reporting emergencies.
“The code 9-1-1 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved…It met public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered, and can be dialed quickly…and it is a unique number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code, or service code, it best met the long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry” states the NENA website.
The 9-1-1 Association examines the importance of the 9-1-1 telephone number on their website. “The intense interest in the concept of 9-1-1 can be attributed primarily to the recognition of characteristics of modern society, i.e., increased incidences of crimes, accidents, and medical emergencies, inadequacy of existing emergency reporting methods, and the continued growth and mobility of the population.”
The bright-red phone used to conduct the first 9-1-1 call. (Courtesy City of Haleyville) What was the response to the very first 9-1-1 call? Mr. Bevill answered “hello.”
According to the City of Haleyville website, the phone call was an attempt by the Alabama Telephone Company to be the first to implement the emergency telephone system, and it occurred a little more than a month after AT&T announced plans to implement a nationwide emergency number.
The Haleyville 9-1-1 system is still in operation today, the cheery red telephone used to answer the phone call is on display in the Haleyville City Hall, and the city will forever hold a place in the history of the telephone.
According to the City of Haleyville website, the phone call was an attempt by the Alabama Telephone Company to be the first to implement the emergency telephone system, and it occurred a little more than a month after AT&T announced plans to implement a nationwide emergency number.
The Haleyville 9-1-1 system is still in operation today, the cheery red telephone used to answer the phone call is on display in the Haleyville City Hall, and the city will forever hold a place in the history of the telephone.
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About the author
Katharine Armbrester graduated from UAB in 2019 with an MA in history and received an MFA in creative writing from the Mississippi University for Women in 2022. She loves the world of periodicals, Alabama history and writing. Katharine Armbrester graduated from UAB in 2019 with an MA in history and received an MFA in creative writing from the Mississippi University for Women in 2022. She loves the world of periodicals, Alabama history and writing.
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