Oral history interview with Bill Schonely, 2019 July 24

This oral history interview with Bill Schonely was conducted by Jack McArthur and Ian Strauss at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on July 24, 2019. Franklin High School history teacher Gregory J.K. García was also present. The interview was conducted as part of the Franklin Historical Society Oral History Program, which aims to preserve the oral history projects of Advanced Placement (AP) History students at Franklin High School in Portland. The interview was conducted in one session.

In this interview, Schonely discusses his early interest in radio broadcasting, particularly his experience with Armed Forces Radio while he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He then briefly talks about his broadcasting career after his discharge, before speaking at length about his three decades as a sports announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers. He describes receiving the job offer from Trail Blazers owner Harry Glickman, putting together a radio station to broadcast games, and the naming of the team. He shares his memories of the Portland Trail Blazers; talks about changes in management, coaching, and the players of the team; and describes the Trail Blazers' 1976 NBA championship win. He also talks about some of the difficulties the team had, including player injuries, play-off losses, and earning the moniker "Jail Blazers" in the early 2000s. He discusses being laid off in 1998 and his return to the Trail Blazers as Ambassador in 2003. He closes the interview by sharing his hopes for the team's 50th season and advice for aspiring broadcasters, and he reflects upon the highlights of his career.