Bill Schonely Obituary, Quotes
Sebastian Wright
Updated on January 01, 2026
Bill Schonely nicknamed “The Schonz,” was an American sports broadcaster who worked as the play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1970 until 1998.
Bill Schonely passed away a the age of 93 on January 21, 2023. The cause of death was not immediately determined.
He was born in Pennsylvania and worked in radio in Louisiana and Seattle before relocating to Portland, Oregon.
He has also worked as a sportscaster for Major League Baseball, several minor league baseball teams, college sports, National Hockey League games, and junior ice hockey.
Following his broadcasting career, he became a fixture at home games. He mingled with fans before games at “Schonely’s Place,” an arena concourse bar named after him. As the game approached, he would shake the head coach’s hand as a good luck gesture.
On several occasions, he sang “God Bless America,” encouraging fans to sing along.
With 28 years calling games and two years doing sideline reports and features, he was the second-longest tenured announcer at the time, trailing only the late Chick Hearn of the Los Angeles Lakers.
