William W. (Bill) Schonely (June 1, 1929 – January 21, 2023) 

Bill Schonely was local sports broadcaster who was the play-
by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers for almost
three decades, from the team’s launch in 1970 until 1998.

The Trail Blazers organization retired Schonely’s microphone
on November 3, 2003.

In 1999, Schonely was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of
Fame for Broadcasting.

In 2012, Schonely was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award
from the Basketball Hall of Fame.