PITTSBURGH -- Longtime Steelers radio announcer Myron Cope died Wednesday morning at the Covenant of South Hills nursing home in Mt. Lebanon.

He was hospitalized in December with pneumonia.

Myron was born on January 23, 1929. He is nationally known as a writer and author. In the Pittsburgh area, he is best known for being the Steelers color commentary on radio for 35 years, for popularizing sports talk on Pittsburgh radio and for his unusual TV commentaries. And he invented the Terrible Towel in 1975.

Cope is one of the most beloved Pittsburgh broadcasting personalities.

Cope has had some bouts of bad health in recent years. In 2004 and early 2005 he battled a bout of pneumonia, which led to his decision to retire from the Steelers booth in 2005.

Cope's family has announced they plan to keep his funeral private.

Pitt Honors Cope At Basketball Game
The University of Pittsburgh encouraged all fans attending Wednesday night's Pitt-Cincinnati men's basketball game at the Petersen Events Center to bring a Terrible Towel in honor of broadcasting icon Myron Cope, a 1951 graduate of Pitt.

Channel 11 Airs Memories of Myron Special
Channel 11 televised a special entitled Memories of Myron Wednesday night. It will replay on Channel 11 on March 2 at noon and on PCNC on Feb. 28 at 11 p.m., Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m., March 1 at noon and March 2 at 3 p.m.