PITTSBURGH —
Ten new stars will be unveiled Tuesday on the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame during a ceremony in the city’s Strip District neighborhood.
One of those includes legendary sportswriter and broadcaster Myron Cope, who served as the Steelers’ color commentator for 35 years starting in 1970.
Cope is also credited with creating the Terrible Towel, a symbol that unites Steeler Nation to this day.
His daughter, Elizabeth Cope, shared the story behind the towel’s creation, recalling how her father sought her feedback on the idea when she was just five years old.
The creation of the Terrible Towel
“He was given the assignment to come up with something that involves the fans with the team, and he was throwing out different ideas, and he was talking about a towel and he was very stuck on that idea,” Elizabeth said.
She added, “I just kept saying, ‘That’s terrible, that’s a terrible idea.’ I don’t know if I just learned that word ‘terrible,’ because I was so young. So I kept saying, ‘That’s so terrible,’ and that was when he said, yeah, the terrible towel.”
“So I give myself credit for the name. I’ve never benefited from that,” she said with a laugh. “But, yeah, that’s how it started.”
Philanthropy
The Terrible Towel has since become an iconic symbol for Steelers fans, creating a sea of yellow on game days. It also generated millions of dollars for the Merakey Allegheny Valley School, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Cope’s son, Danny, who has autism.
“My dad always worried about my brother and what would happen to him,” Elizabeth said. In 1996, Cope donated all of his proceeds from the towel to the school.
“The school has made over $10 million,” Elizabeth said. “It’s amazing. It’s something I’m proud of because not too many people would be able to do that.”
“Just knowing that’s my dad’s legacy, it just feels surreal. At a football game, it really hits you when I see all the towels. Of course, I think of my father and miss hearing his voice.”
Elizabeth with the original Terrible Towel
“Immaculate Reception”
Cope is also remembered for coining the term “Immaculate Reception” for Franco Harris’ game-winning touchdown catch against the Raiders on Dec. 23, 1972.
Harris, who died in December 2022, will also be honored with a star on the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame.
“I thought the twirling looked pretty cool, and I thought when you see a stadium full of twirling gold towels, that looked pretty awesome,” Harris once said about the Terrible Towel.
Elizabeth shared her family’s connection to Harris, saying, “I loved Franco, and my dad loved Franco. He was a pallbearer at my dad’s funeral.”
She added, “It’s a shame that he can’t be here to see it. It was a shame that he couldn’t be here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. I’m sure it’s bittersweet for his family as well, but I’m sure they feel honored. And it is a big honor.”
In addition to Cope and Harris, eight other notable Pittsburghers will be inducted into the Walk of Fame, including Martha Graham, Charles “Teenie” Harris, H.J. Heinz, Shirley Jones, Mario Lemieux, Henry Mancini, Jimmy Stewart and George Westinghouse.
To learn more about it, you can head to Pittsburgh Walk of Fame’s website by clicking here.