Remembering Bill Schonely
“Rest in peace my dear friend, Bill Schonely. Thank you for a lifetime of memories.”
- David Lucas, Executive Director
Bill Schonely, nicknamed "The Schonz", was the iconic voice of the Portland Trail Blazers, and a very close friend to the Lucas family. He served on The Maurice Lucas Foundation for 12 years and we are so lucky to have had his generosity and support through the years.
Bill 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 coined numerous phrases and sayings during his radio career with the Blazers, which have become synonymous with the Blazermania phenomenon, including "Rip City", "Bingo Bango Bongo", and "Lickety brindle up the middle".
Rest in Peace, Bill.
About the Maurice Lucas Foundation
The Foundation is named in honor of the late Maurice Lucas (1952-2010), the leading scorer on the 1977 NBA champion Trail Blazers team. Besides his outstanding achievements on the court, Lucas also selflessly gave his time and energy to Portland youth. Since its formation in 2010, the Maurice Lucas Foundation has served thousands of students and families through its Academy program, basketball camps and teams.