The man who was responsible for the “Terrible Towel” in Pittsburgh and broadcast the Steelers during its glory days in the 1970’s, Myron Cope has passed away this morning at the age of 79. He had been in declining health for several years, retiring from the broadcast booth in 2005.
Myron didn’t have the classic broadcasting voice. In fact, it was gravelly, screeching and at times, annoying, but he knew his football and was quite lovable.
Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the story. And Collier has an extensive remembrance of Cope. Steelers fans have always been fond of Cope because he was a fan himself. Several readers of the Post-Gazette have already expressed their feelings about him.
The Steelers have issued a statement on Cope’s passing. And there’s a story on Cope on the Steelers’ website as well.
Before he became an analyst in the broadcast booth, Cope was an accomplished writer for the Saturday Evening Post as well as Sports Illustrated. But he’ll always be known to generations of Steelers fans for his work as a broadcaster. I know that Myron will be missed.
Here’s one of his last interviews with Tunch and Wolf in Pittsburgh.
And finally, here’s Myron talking about the Terrible Towel before a Steelers game.
