Hillgrove retiring from Steelers Broadcast
February 29, 2024The legendary Bill Hillgrove is hanging up his headphones in the Steelers Broadcast Booth after 30-years as the announcer for the Steelers Radio Network. He took over for Jack Fleming when he retired in 1994 when he was “handpicked” by team owner Dan Rooney.
Hillgrove will continue similar duties for the University of Pittsburgh.
A lifelong Pittsburgher, Mr. Hillgrove is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and Duquesne University. He started at WTAE-TV in 1959 where he handled several duties until he was named the full-time sports anchor in 1975 and served two decades as sports director. He has also worked in music radio having worked at WKJF-FM (93.7) in its day and most recently on Pittsburgh Public Media’s WZUM-AM/FM (1550 – and W266CV 101.1 -Braddock; 88.1 Bethany, WV).
Currently Mr. Hillgrove serves as President of the Board of Directors for the National Museum of Broadcasting Pittsburgh, who recently announced the purchase of an old bank location in East Pittsburgh to house the artifacts collected.
(WTAE)
Everyone probably has a Bill Hillgrove story. Not surprising that he is the LAST NFL play-by-play announcer to simultaneously call both an NFL team and a local college team (Pitt football AND basketball). And, at 83, he is keeping the Pitt duties.
I still burst out laughing every time I think about his first-day-on-the-job story involving the Three Stooges. Welcome to showbiz, kid!