Throwback Thursday: 1985 ACC championship watch party, Joe Namath on stage, and a Belville dispute

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This week’s Throwback Thursday looks back at March 1985, with stories ranging from ACC basketball excitement to a celebrity appearance on stage and a neighborhood dispute in Belville.

In one report, basketball fans in Wilmington gathered at J. Michael’s Philly Deli to watch the University of North Carolina Tar Heels take on Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship.

“We’re here to watch Carolina lose!” one fan said.
“This is the biggest day ever!” another added.
“Not another Friday in Wilmington. ACC tournament’s the big time!” a third said.

North Carolina ultimately fell to Georgia Tech 57-54 in that game.

Another story highlighted a visit from football legend Joe Namath and his then-wife Deborah Mays, who performed in the play Cactus Flower at Thalian Hall. The production marked the first by Opera House Theatre Company.

While rehearsing, the two spoke about their interest in acting.

“It takes a great deal of mental and physical discipline, and I like that,” Namath said.
“It fulfills me and it makes me be able to satisfy myself,” Mays said.

Following that production, Opera House Theatre Company received nonprofit status and a grant from the North Carolina State Arts Council.

Finally, a neighborhood dispute in Belville, where a family raised concerns about people urinating behind a convenience store next to their home.

“My wife went out and told them to leave, they laughed at her,” the resident said. “Mr. Boney stood in the walkway there and laughed at her. She threw stones at him, they threatened her.”

At the time, the store owner said he did not plan to install a bathroom.

The segment is part of a new weekly Throwback Thursday series that will feature stories from WWAY’s historical news archives. That archive can be accessed here.