24 Facts About Larry Langford

At the time of his death, Langford was hospitalized on compassionate release from serving a 15-year federal felony sentence.

Larry Langford graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in social and behavioral sciences.

Larry Langford was a reporter for WBRC-6, which at the time was the ABC affiliate in Birmingham, during the mid 1970s.

Larry Langford was the community's first African-American TV news reporter.

Larry Langford was later a public relations director for a Birmingham Budweiser distributor.

Larry Langford served four years as the first African-American commission president.

Larry Langford raised money and generated public interest and support for Visionland Theme Park, located near Bessemer.

Cooper then challenged the election in court, saying that Larry Langford was still a resident of Fairfield and did not legally reside within Birmingham's city limits.

Larry Langford was long a proponent of a domed stadium for the city, intended to replace the aging Legion Field as a venue for football on the collegiate and professional levels.

Larry Langford, who converted to Catholicism in 1996, was both praised and criticized for the degree to which his Christian faith informed his political agenda.

Larry Langford held Bible studies for municipal workers at City Hall each week and was a frequent speaker at public prayer services and church events.

Larry Langford called upon "all Bishops, Priests, Pastors, Ministers and all of our citizens of various denominations and creeds" to join him in donning burlap sacks and having their heads smeared with ashes during a prayer rally at Boutwell Auditorium.

Larry Langford injured relations with the Birmingham LGBT community in May 2008 when he refused to sign a proclamation for the annual Central Alabama Pride Parade, an event that has been held on the city's south side every year since 1989.

Larry Langford refused to allow banners on city property for the event.

Larry Langford further stated that it was inappropriate for the government to condone a lifestyle.

On March 3,2009, Mayor Larry Langford proposed to the city council that a DVD video be distributed to inner city youth.

Larry Langford suggested building a new structure, modeled after The Pentagon, which would house the city jail, police headquarters, fire department headquarters, a police academy, and public works offices.

Larry Langford told the Birmingham City Council that he intended to file the paperwork, along with the $500,000 fee, necessary for Birmingham to be a contender to host the 2020 Olympics.

In 2007, Larry Langford was investigated by the SEC on corruption charges.

The lawsuit alleged Larry Langford accepted more than $156,000 in cash and benefits from Montgomery banker Bill Blount in exchange for county bond business.

Larry Langford was convicted of receiving $235,000 in bribes from Blount, some routed through Al LaPierre, to help influence the bond deals.

Larry Langford was released on December 28,2018, after US District Court Judge Scott Coogler commuted his sentence to time served due to deteriorating health conditions.

Larry Langford was first rejected for a compassionate release after describing himself as "terminally ill".

Larry Langford was granted compassionate release from prison in December 2018 due to his failing health.