Myron Cope, 1929-2008: Key events in the life of the Pittsburgh sports legend

1929 – Myron Sydney Kopelman is born in Pittsburgh on Jan. 23 1947 – Graduates from Taylor Allderdice High School 1951 – Name is shortened to Cope by his newspaper editor 1960 – Leaves newspaper writing to pen freelance magazine articles 1963 – Wins the E.P. Dutton Prize for best magazine sports writing in the nation, for feature on Cassius Clay 1968 – Takes a part-time job at WTAE Radio doing morning commentary 1970 – Joins Steelers broadcast team 1972 – Thanks to a fan’s suggestion, coins the term “Immaculate Reception” after Steelers’ improbable playoff win over the Oakland Raiders 1973 – Begins hosting nightly talk show on WTAE Radio, “Myron Cope on sports” 1975 – At the behest of a WTAE executive, invents the Terrible Towel before a playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium 1995 – Ends radio talk show after 22 years 1996 – Gives the trademark to the Terrible Towel to Allegheny Valley School, an institution for the mentally and physically challenged 2004 – Misses three exhibition games while recovering from throat surgery and pneumonia 2005 – Retires from broadcast booth as Steelers announcer after 35 years 2008 – Dies of respiratory failure on Feb. 27 Additional Information:

The Memories of Myron

Additional Information:

Feeling a draft

Smathers on Myron

---

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---