Boise, ID (CBS2) — On Saturday, January 21, 2023, Bill Schonely with his wife of 31 years Dottie Schonely by his side passed away at the age of 93.
"We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Trail Blazers legendary broadcaster Bill Schonely," said Dewayne Hankins, President of Business Operations for the Trail Blazers. "Our hearts go out to his wife, Dottie, and the entire Schonely family during this difficult time. Bill was a warm, engaging and sharp person – always up for a joke, a keen observation or a kind remark. His mark on the organization, the state of Oregon and all of sports broadcasting will be felt for generations. No one loved Rip City more than Bill did and we are all forever grateful for his contributions to the community."
Schonely had an extensive career in sports broadcasting going back to when he served in the Marine Corps where he hosted a sports show for Armed Forces Radio overseas. After he moved to Seattle and continued his career with the radio station KVI and was the voice for the Seattle Totems in the Western Hockey League. He was also the broadcaster for the University of Washington football, The Oakland Seals in the National Hockey League, The Seattle Angels baseball, and Major League Baseball's Seattle Pilots before heading to the Portland Trail Blazers for the remainder of his career.
Schonely served the Trail Blazers for 30 years doing play-by-play. In that time he called 2,500 games including their championship run in 1977, and their runs throughout the 90s. Schonely's game streak was only interrupted in 1982-83 when he was recovering from heart bypass surgery. Schonely was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for broadcasting in 1999. in 2012 he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for contributions to the game as an outstanding broadcaster.
In 2003 Schonely served as an Ambassador for the Trail Blazers by supporting the team's outreach mission and appearing on various radio and television broadcasts. He retired from the Trail Blazers after more than 50 years at the end of the 2021-22 NBA season.
“The Schonz was a cornerstone of the organization since Day 1. He was the ultimate Trail Blazer – the voice of the Trail Blazers,” said Trail Blazers Alumni Ambassador Terry Porter. “He was someone that Blazers fans grew up listening to for many, many generations. His voice will be missed, his presence will be missed, but his legacy will not be forgotten. It’s intertwined with every part of this organization.”
Providence Child Cent one of the causes Bill Schonely supported established the "Bill's Kids Fund" in 2009 to honor his dedication and compassion for the children who call the center home. He also supported the American Heart Association.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made in Schonely's name to the Providence Child Center and the American Heart Association. There will be a public celebration of life in his honor and details will be made available for that at a later date.
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