GoHeels Exclusive: Family Ties

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

A third-year student in the UNC School of Law in January 1986, Alice Richey looked on from the then-Carmichael Auditorium stands the last time the North Carolina men's basketball team played a regular-season game inside the building that bears her family name.

The grandniece of Billy Carmichael, who the facility is named after, Richey thought then – and for much of the last 33 years – the Tar Heels would never play there again. But on Sunday, they did. And she and nine of her family members were there to relive the Carmichael magic.

Richey said her husband, David Pitser, thought the Carmichaels needed to be at the game against Wofford, so he set about trying to acquire tickets. Eventually, he found some, thanks to UNC, which also recognized the family by having Richey and Margot Lester, Billy Carmichael's granddaughter, present the game ball.

Both gestures meant a lot to the family, Lester said.

"It's one of the things that makes The Carolina Way what it is," said Lester, also a UNC alumnae. "We've had people here forever it seems like, but even just being a part of the Carolina family, it makes a huge difference.

"So many of us grew up either listening to games from here or seeing games here, that for us to be able to relive that, on the radio or in person, is a real treat. And it just makes us all reconnect in a really different way that's special because it doesn't happen all the time."

A quick history lesson: Billy Carmichael played for the Tar Heels from 1917-22, and paced the team in scoring (10.8 points per game) in 1919-20. He especially shined in the first game against Duke, then Trinity College, scoring 16 points in a 36-25 win. But as much as he achieved on the court, he was more known for serving as Carolina's finance officer, controller, vice president and acting president.

What he accomplished in those roles led to the University dedicating Carmichael Auditorium, now Carmichael Arena, to him in 1965.

There are some people, however, who think the building is named after Billy's younger brother, Cartwright, who played for the Tar Heels from 1920-24. That's understandable, considering he was UNC's first 1,000-point scorer and first-team All-American in any sport. He also starred on the 1924 team that went 26-0 and was named national champions by the Helms Foundation.

Over the years, Richey and Lester heard several stories about their respective grandfathers and granduncles, of how competitive they were and their antics as teammates on the 1921-22 team. No place reminds Richey and Lester of them more than Carmichael.

"I used to come in here all the time and see Margot's grandad's picture, and I'd walk around the corner and see my granddad's picture," Richey said. "And it was really nice just to feel even more a part of Carolina than we already did."

Although the men's basketball team no longer regularly plays at Carmichael, the building still houses the gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling and women's basketball teams. The fencing and rowing coaches' offices are also there, as were the field hockey and women's lacrosse coaches' offices until their new facilities were completed.

"There's all kinds of stuff in here," Lester said. "And that's just great. Ultimately, what we've all learned is the power of athletics and sports should bring us all together in a really good way and have a lot of fun. It feels great to see this building still be put into use for that and to now have offices and all kinds of really good stuff that helps the whole athletic department.

"I know that's what my granddaddy would've wanted."

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