Nashville Then: 40 years ago in May 1984

Veteran golf pro Mason Rudolph is a study in concentration as he lines up a putt during the first day of the Tennessee State Open at Belle Meade Country Club on May 1, 1984.

"Kudzu" cartoonist Doug Marlette works on a drawing of his character Rev. Will B. Dunn while visiting the offices of The Tennessean on May 1, 1984. Marlette is in Nashville promoting his new book, “Preacher: The Wit and Wisdom of Reverend Will B. Dunn.”

Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg opens his show with a medley that included his current pop music hit “Language of Love” at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville on May 1, 1984.

Dick Johansson of Trevecca serves during the Volunteer State Athletic Conference's No. 1 singles title match at Centennial Tennis Center in Nashville on May 3, 1984. Johansson, a junior from Amel, Sweden, took his third straight VSAC title and gained a berth in the NAIA national tournament.

NAACP executive director Benjamin L. Hooks, left, and National Urban League President John E. Jacob speak with reporters on May 3, 1984, during a break in the three-day Black Family Summit held at Fisk University in Nashville.

Goodlettsville High’s Larry Cantrell, center, wins the 100-yard dash at the Region II Class A-AA track meet on May 5, 1984. Cantrell qualified for the TSSAA Class A-AA state track championships in the long jump and in all three sprints.

Overton High’s Keith Davis, center, wins the 440-yard dash in the Class AAA Region III track meet at Overton on May 5, 1984. Whites Creek’s Tyrone Bean, right, was second, and both qualified for the state meet.

Willie Hector, security guard at U.S. Tobacco Co., wades through waste-deep water on Eighth Avenue and Harrison Street on May 6, 1984, after checking to see if anyone was still inside a car stranded by flooding. Hector found only three bags of groceries in the nearly submerged vehicle.

Downtown Nashville’s American General Center, center, nearly disappears from view under heavy cloud cover during a storm on May 6, 1984. A line of intense thunderstorms triggered widespread flooding that killed a Nashville woman.

Workers clear branches and debris from Highway 41-A in in Montgomery Country on May 7, 1984. At least 23 tornadoes reportedly touched down in Tennessee during a 36-hour period.

Iroquois Steeplechase founder John Sloan, right, helps officials during the post-position drawing at the Percy Warner Park Stables on May 10, 1984. The 43rd annual Iroquois is scheduled for May 12.

Bishop James D. Niedergeses, left, of Nashville, and Bishop J. Francis Stafford of Memphis, joined to urge the elimination of capital punishment during a press conference on May 14, 1984, at St. Mary’s Church at 328 Fifth Ave. N. The two are urging Gov. Lamar Alexander to commute the death sentence of Ronald Harries.

Beech High second baseman Trace Austin relays the ball to first base after forcing out McGavock High’s Dwayne Morris during the TSSAA state baseball playoffs at McGavock on May 14, 1984. McGavock went on to win the Class AAA state quarterfinals contest 9-1.

Award-winning songwriter Rory Bourke, whose photographs are on exhibit at Mills Book Store in Hillsboro Village, poses on May 14, 1984, next to a print of two of his daughters. Bourke is a three-time ASCAP Country Writer of the Year winner.

The Metro area's top prep track and field athletes this year gather for a photo at Overton High School on May 15, 1984. The Tennessean Metro Area Track Men and Women of the Year are Overton’s Shelia Fitzgerald, top left, and Keith Davis, bottom right, for Class AAA, and Page’s Carla Peters, top right, and Goodlettsville’s Larry Cantrell, bottom left, for Class A-AA.

Painter David Smith, right, works on a billboard located above Trabue Transmission where West End splits off from Broadway on May 16, 1984. The sign reproduces a painting by Nashville artist Arthur Orr, commissioned by Interior Design Services for this public setting. Aiding Smith is his assistant, Billy Joe Lyle, left.

The court and water garden of the new Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel is seen from the Concierge’s room on May 17, 1984. Joining the hotel is a 750-car parking garage and an adjoining 13-story office building.

Mary Ann Butler, right, and her date, Tyler Bryan, exchange a prom kiss in the parking lot at the Briley Parkway Holiday Inn on May 18, 1984. The couple enjoyed the evening even though Butler discovered she had left the couple’s prom tickets at home.

Paul Gurley, executive director of Beaman Rolls-Royce in Nashville, keeps a watchful eye on one of two Silver Spirits being delivered on May 21, 1984. The agency is ranked the No. 70 Rolls dealer in the country.

Teresa Wooten reads a magazine on May 22, 1984, while she waits for customers at her vegetable and fruit stand on Lebanon Road in Donelson.

Tina Turner electrifies the crowd during a 40-minute performance at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville on May 22, 1984. Turner, in the midst of a career revival, opened for Lionel Richie.

Lionel Richie, the only singer-songwriter who has scored No. 1 pop hits seven years in a row, opens his set with his hit "Truly " before a packed Municipal Auditorium on May 22, 1984.

Guy Willin, new master chef at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, works on an ice sculpture of a swan on the terrace between the hotel and Commerce Union Bank in Nashville on May 23, 1984. Willin has been doing ice carvings for about seven years.

Regular music-makers at the Bluebird Cafe gather on May 23, 1984, for an announcement that the club will celebrates its second anniversary with a big party on June 3. Rockin’ Rick Schulman, center, and others get a head start on the birthday cake. Standing from left are Pebble Daniel, Larry Chaney, Vicki Carrico, Jay Patten, Judi Fitzgerald, Ralph Vitello, club owner Amy Kurland and Frank Sheen. Kneeling are Toni Sehulster, left, and Dwight Scott.

Nashville Sounds outfielder Matt Gallegos, right, protests an umpire's call in a game against the Greenville Braves at Greer Stadium on May 23, 1984. Gallegos was ejected for arguing, but the Sounds still won, 5-4.

Joe Pentecost and his grandson, Woody, enjoy the warm weather by swinging from a rope at Joe's home along River Road on May 24, 1984.

Penny Slusher, left, and Dara Modglin, dressed as a tomato and lettuce, wave to passers-by at the Mrs. Winner’s restaurant at 1900 West End Ave. in Nashville on May 25, 1984.

Seven-year-old Joe Nokes, left, and 12-year-old Danny Montgomery get autographs from Nashville Sounds catcher Pat Dempsey before the game against the Greenville Braves at Greer Stadium on May 25, 1984. The Sounds lost 6-1 to the Braves.

Plate umpire V.L. Ivie, center, restrains Louise Mandrell, right, from seemingly going after her sister Barbara Mandrell with a bat during the first inning of the Celebrity Softball Classic at Vanderbilt Stadium on May 28, 1984. More than 15,000 fans watched as Patrick Duffy's Hot Shots defeat Mandrell's Do-Rites 8-7.

Around Nashville, residents came out to watch the last annular solar eclipse of the century viewable in North America on May 30, 1984. Stan Morrell, left, a guidance counselor at McGavock High School, helps Donna Huffines, a school secretary, to look at the eclipse with the aid of a welder’s helmet.