Bill Schonely Retirement: Did Bill Schonely Retire?

William W. Schonely, nicknamed “The Schnoz”, was an American sports broadcaster who was the play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers for almost three decades, from the team’s launch in 1970 until 1998.

Schonely’s charitable activities included involvement with the American Heart Association, Life Flight, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Providence Child Center Foundation.

Schonely was a member of his church choir, enjoyed golf, and listened to big-band music. From his first marriage, he had four children. In 1992, he married his second wife, Dottie.

Bill Schonely Retirement: Did Bill Schonely Retire?

Schonely was the Trail Blazers’ first radio broadcaster, beginning in 1970 during the team’s debut season.

After a long career in broadcasting, he was hired as the sixth employee in the organization’s history.

He continued to broadcast for the following 28 seasons, including two seasons as the team’s television play-by-play announcer in the 1990s.

Schonely withdrew from game calling in 1998, but he continued to work on sideline reporting and other television broadcast ventures.

From 2003 through last April, he also served as an ambassador for the franchise.