Alabama
Former Alabama news anchor dies: ‘An amazing teacher, encourager, and friend’
Former WSFA news anchor Bob Howell has died following an extended illness, the Montgomery TV station reported on Saturday.
Howell spent more than three decades at the station during two stints between 1976-2012.
“He was an amazing teacher, encourager, and friend,” said Birmingham meteorologist James Spann in a social media post about Howell’s death. “My memories of the days with Bob at WSFA are cherished.”
Funeral arrangements haven’t yet been announced.
Howell began his broadcasting career in radio in his hometown of Geneva, about 30 miles southwest of Dothan near the Florida state line, according to WSFA. He moved into TV in the Dothan market before joining WSFA in 1976.
According to the station, he anchored more than 10,000 broadcasts and served as the managing editor.
In 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame.
“Outside of his work at WSFA, Bob Howell helped teach future journalists at Troy University’s Hall School of Journalism for several years, including some of the employees still working at WSFA today,” according to the station.
Desmond Wingard, WSFA’s news director, said he grew up in south Alabama watching Howell on TV every night.
“I consider Bob one of my mentors,” Wingard said, per the station. “I watched him growing up, and it was his professionalism that drew me into this career field. Being able to work at WSFA with Bob years later was a high point for me. I’ll always remember his coaching and him checking in on me after his retirement.”
I am very saddened to learn of the death of Bob Howell, long time news anchor at WSFA TV in Montgomery.nnI worked at...Posted by James Spann on Saturday, May 24, 2025","type":"facebook-post","version":"1.0","width":552,"_id":"https://www.facebook.com/spannwx/posts/pfbid0mqkY1fuTMTPt9ErSqsG51jhXHkomUNHnKniapme7HnVkzo6iibMdsUEQeHLhDJ9nl","locale":"en_US"},"referent":{"id":"https://www.facebook.com/spannwx/posts/pfbid0mqkY1fuTMTPt9ErSqsG51jhXHkomUNHnKniapme7HnVkzo6iibMdsUEQeHLhDJ9nl","provider":"https://graph.facebook.com/v8.0/oembed_post?url=","referent_properties":{"locale":"en_US"},"service":"oembed","type":"facebook-post"}},{"_id":"G3XMQPPUPRGMNLBHNCJKEAOZ6M","additional_properties":{},"content":"Funeral arrangements haven’t yet been announced.","type":"text"},{"_id":"OXAIOVXJDNE43EDWHVQRT53VSQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Howell began his broadcasting career in radio in his hometown of Geneva, about 30 miles southwest of Dothan near the Florida state line, according to WSFA. He moved into TV in the Dothan market before joining WSFA in 1976.","type":"text"},{"_id":"LD7UDUJ5DJCF5BFOWEGFP7CB7M","additional_properties":{},"content":"According to the station, he anchored more than 10,000 broadcasts and served as the managing editor. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"CCE3INK6VNHAFEXLCMXM6BALIA","additional_properties":{},"content":"In 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame.","type":"text"},{"_id":"KQD3GVSLXNBOXI4CXW2BOPIMMU","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Outside of his work at WSFA, Bob Howell helped teach future journalists at Troy University’s Hall School of Journalism for several years, including some of the employees still working at WSFA today,” according to the station.","type":"text"},{"_id":"TPETK7LJEJFGRL7OJLV7VVYP4U","additional_properties":{},"content":"Desmond Wingard, WSFA’s news director, said he grew up in south Alabama watching Howell on TV every night. 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New interactive Gopher Tortoise exhibit coming to Alabama Nature Center
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Alabama Wildlife Federation and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama are building a new interactive Gopher Tortoise Habitat Display to give Alabamians a chance to immerse themselves in the state’s longleaf pine ecosystem.
The exhibit, which is being funded by a $50,000 HMMA investment, will be located in the NaturePlex at the Alabama Nature Center.
The exhibit spotlights the gopher tortoise as a keystone species in Alabama, showing how its burrows shelter other wildlife.
Interactive Gopher Habitat Display(Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama) It will feature interactive, age-appropriate elements to teach habitat conservation and responsible stewardship of Alabama’s natural resources.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
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Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
A quick history of the University of Alabama for commencement weekend
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With students and families on campus this weekend for spring 2026 graduation, here’s a rundown of University of Alabama campus history that originally published Nov. 14, 2025.
1820
● The Alabama General Assembly officially established the first public university and named it the University of the State of Alabama. By the 1860s, the school was called the University of Alabama.
1831
● Harvard graduate and Vermont native Alva Woods became the first president of the University of Alabama. First day of classes was held on April 18 with four professors and 52 students. By the end of the term there were nearly 100 students.
1841
● The President’s Mansion was built.
1860
● The Round House was built for the use of the student sentinels.
1865
● All but a few buildings — the President’s Mansion, the observatory, the Round House, the Gorgas House and a few faculty residences — were burned by Union troops.
1892
● Student William G. Little introduced his fellow UA students to the sport of football.
1893
● Anna B. Adams and Bessie Parker became the first women to enroll at the university.
1914
● The first Tutwiler Hall was built on the site of today’s Rose Administration Building. It was the first building exclusively for women.
1915
● The University of Alabama Student Government Association was founded.
1926
● The Alabama Crimson Tide football team won the Rose Bowl, becoming national champions for the first time.
1929
● Denny Chimes, funded in part by student donations, was dedicated in honor of beloved UA President George H. Denny. UA also opens Denny Stadium.
1939
● Construction on the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library was completed.
1956
● The first Black student enrolled. Autherine Lucy attended classes for three days before being removed from campus and then expelled.
1963
● The university was officially desegregated when Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled. Gov. George Wallace made good on a threat to “stand in the schoolhouse door” to stop them, but his actions were symbolic and did not stop their enrollment.
1975
● The on-campus football stadium is renamed Bryant-Denny Stadium to honor legendary football coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant.
1980
● UA’s 1979 squad wins the Sugar Bowl, giving Bryant back-to-back national championships. The 1979 championship was also the sixth and final title of Bryant’s career.
2011
● On April 27, 2011, a tornado destroyed much of Tuscaloosa, and six students lost their lives.
2013
● Judy Bonner becomes the university’s first female president.
2016
● The university’s strategic plan, Advancing the Flagship, was unveiled.
2019
● The university achieved R1: Very High Research Activity status, according to the Carnegie Classification.
2020
● The COVID-19 pandemic caused spring classes to be moved online. In-person classes resumed by the fall semester.
● UA wins its 18th national championship in football.
2022
Julia Tutwiler Hall, the 13-story dorm near Bryant-Denny Stadium, was demolished just after 7 a.m. on July 4. UA built a new Tutwiler Hall, just a few yards to the west of the old Tut.
2024
● The Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center, an immersive and engaging visitor center named in honor of longtime University supporters, opened in the restored and reimagined historic Bryce Main.
● The football arena is renamed Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium to honor retired coach Nick Saban. Saban earned six national championships during his 17-year career at the Capstone.
2025
● Peter Mohler is hired to become UA’s 30th president.
● UA sets a new enrollment record by welcoming 42,360 students in the fall.
Sources: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa News files
Alabama
Alabama Claims Series Finale
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Vanderbilt lost 8-5 in the series finale at No. 24 Alabama on Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
After falling behind early, the Commodores clawed their way back but the home side was able to hold on for the win.
Alabama used four hits, including a three-run homer, to build a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
Colin Barczi got Vanderbilt right back in the game in the top of the second with a three-run blast of his own. Braden Holcomb led off the frame with a single and stole second. Rustan Rigdon was hit by a pitch with two outs and Barczi launched his 10th home run of the season to make it 5-3.
Holcomb picked up his second hit of the day in the top of the third. After Mike Mancini worked a walk and stole second, Holcomb lined a single up the middle to bring home Mancini and pull the Commodores to within a run.
Alabama worked a pair of walks to start off the bottom of the fourth and both runners came around to score as the Crimson Tide went ahead 7-4.
Korbin Reynolds roped a double off the wall to lead off the top of the seventh. Reynolds moved up to third on a passed ball before touching home on a sac fly by Ryker Waite to cut Alabama’s lead back down to two.
Luke Guth came on to pitch with two on and nobody out in the seventh. Catcher’s interference loaded the bases but Guth escaped the jam to keep the deficit at two.
The Crimson Tide extended their lead to three with a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth, going in front 8-5.
Vanderbilt returns home to host Louisville in the Battle of the Barrel on Tuesday at Hawkins Field.
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