1. In 1963, Governor George Wallace made his infamous "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" at the University of Alabama, attempting to prevent the enrollment of two black students. Federal Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach forced Wallace to step aside and the students were allowed to enroll.
2. Alabama adopted their state flag on June 17, 1911. The flag features the St. Andrew's Cross in red on a white background, with a crimson "X" border and a crimson saltire cross to represent the state's Confederate heritage.
3. On June 17, 1885, Montgomery native Booker T. Washington gave his famous Atlanta Compromise speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition. This speech called for mutual cooperation between blacks and whites and advocated for African Americans to focus on economic development and education rather than political agitation.
4. Alabama-born baseball player and Hall of Famer Willie Mays hit his first career home run on June 17, 1951 while playing for the New York Giants. Mays grew up in Fairfield, Alabama and went on to become one of the greatest players in baseball history.
5. On June 17, 1972, Governor George Wallace was shot and paralyzed while campaigning for president in Laurel, Maryland. The assassination attempt effectively ended Wallace's presidential hopes and left him in a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.