At 2 pm on February 16, 1968, the very first 9-1-1 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama. The call was made by state Representative Rankin Fite from Haleyville mayor James Whitt’s office and was answered by U.S. Representative Tom Bevill at the Haleyville police station on a bright red telephone that was given to the city by the Alabama Telephone Company. Haleyville still celebrates their part in 9-1-1 history with an annual festival.
