Myron Cope---Pittsburgh native, voice of the Steelers, inventor of the "Terrible Towel," member of the National Radio Hall of Fame, humanitarian---died yesterday at the age of 79. His unique delivery, enthusiastic personality, and thick Pittsburgh accent were among the reasons so many Steelers fans muted the volume on the TV and turned up the radio during Cope's long tenure as radio broadcaster. Here's a minute-long video clip of him talking about the Towel:
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette has a nice obituary. An excerpt:
His style, simultaneously elegant, robust, and humored, landed him on the original full-time staff of Sports Illustrated, which, with the Saturday Evening Post, became the primary conduits of his work. At its 50th anniversary, Sports Illustrated cited Mr. Cope's profile of Howard Cosell as one of its 50 all-time classic articles. Only Mr. Cope and George Plimpton held the title of special contributor at that magazine when Mr. Cope left due to the demands of his burgeoning radio career, and in no small part due to health insurance concerns as they related to his son, Danny.
Mr. Cope's legendary charitable work, which ultimately led to his being awarded the American Institute for Public Service's Jefferson Award in January 1999, began with his son's enrollment at the Allegheny Valley School, an institution for the profoundly mentally and physically disabled. He served for many years on the board of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Autism Society of America and the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, the charity auto race he co-founded, along with the Myron Cope/Foge Fazio Golf Tournament for Autistic Children.
The Terrible Towel, long since a worldwide symbol of Steelers passion and often the Steelers artifact with which Mr. Cope is most identified, is now a trademark that benefits the Allegheny Valley School.
He was a legend in Pittsburgh and he will be missed.
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