Bill Schonely (June 1, 1929 – January 21, 2023) 
will always be remembered as the voice of the Portland Trail Blazers. “The Schonz” served as the team’s radio or television play-by-play announcer for 28 seasons. He spent many more after that as a very visible team representative. Bill’s radio calls included many beloved phrases, none more so than “Rip City”, which he blurted out for the first time in 1970.
While broadcasting over 2,500 NBA games, Schonely became the team’s unofficial ambassador through both his game broadcasts and his off-season community visits throughout Oregon.
His announcing tenure with the Blazers was the third longest in NBA history. While becoming the most familiar broadcast voice in the state of Oregon, Schonely worked extensively for the American Heart Association, Life Flight and MDA Charities and could easily persuaded to sing at any event.
"Schonz" called the Trail Blazers three appearances in the NBA championships, including the magic 1977 finals. In between two stints with the Blazers, Bill announced Oregon State University basketball games and Portland Beavers baseball.
Bill Schonely already had years of broadcast experience before he arrived in Rip City. The Pennsylvania native broadcast on Armed Forces Radio while in the service and spent 14 years in Seattle. He announced hockey, wrestling and roller derby. Bill was the radio voice of the Seattle Pilots during their one-season Major League campaign. He had almost became the SuperSonics first announcer in 1967, but, thankfully for Portland fans, that deal fell through.
The Trail Blazers “retired” Bill’s microphone in 2003, in lieu of a jersey number. He received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame presents the Schonely Lifetime Achievement Award on select occasions.