Pete Gross

Peter R. Gross (December 28, 1936 – December 2, 1992) was an American sports announcer who was a household name in Seattle, Washington, for 17 years as the "Voice of the Seahawks". He spent most of his career as a radio play-by-play announcer with KIRO (AM). His most memorable call line was "Touchdown Seahawks!" Steve Raible, who served as color commentator with Pete Gross during much of his 17 years, continues to call that line as the Seahawks play-by-play announcer today. Gross' original broadcast partners on the Seahawks radio broadcasts were Don Heinrich and Wayne Cody.

Pete Gross
Born(1936-12-28)December 28, 1936
San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 2, 1992(1992-12-02) (aged 55)
Mercer Island, Washington, U.S.
Sports commentary career
Team(s)Seattle Seahawks

Before announcing for the Seahawks, Gross called football and basketball play-by-play for the University of Washington as well as for the University of the Pacific. He was the play-by-play announcer on KIRO-TV Seattle SuperSonics telecasts from 1976-78. The Seahawks inducted Gross into the Seahawks Ring of Honor in 1992. In his 17 seasons, Gross called almost every game, only missing five games in 1992 due to cancer. In 1983, Gross was in the broadcast booth as the Seahawks came within one game of the January 1984 Super Bowl.

Early years

Gross was born in 1936 and grew up in the San Francisco Bay area.[1] He graduated from Tamalpais High School in 1954. He attended USC and graduated from the University of Miami where he competed as a swimmer.[2]

Family

Gross was married to Beverly Sue Peterson; they had three daughters. One daughter was Wendy Gross, later Wendy Kerr (married to Patrick Kerr).

Career

Gross began his career in sports broadcasting as high school play-by-play announcer in Watsonville, California. Later, he worked as a Top 40 disc jockey at KSRO Santa Rosa, KXOA Sacramento (using the on-air name "Tony King"), and KJOY Stockton. While in Sacramento, Gross also served as Director of Public Relations for the Sacramento Capitols [3] of the Continental Football League while also doing football play-by-play for American River College. At K-JOY Gross was play-by-play broadcaster for the University of the Pacific football and basketball. He later continued broadcasting sports on KIRO 710 Radio in Seattle in 1973, covering University of Washington football and basketball, and radio and TV broadcasting of the NBA SuperSonics.

When the NFL expansion team, Seattle Seahawks began preseason play in 1976, Gross became the Seahawks' play-by-play announcer, an assignment which eventually stretched out 17 years. In addition, Gross covered Pac-10 basketball broadcasts for TCS/Metro and ESPN, color analysis for Philadelphia 76ers broadcasts, and color for the Mutual radio network's coverage of the NBA championships (1978). Gross Broadcast 331 Seahawks' games as the Voice of the Seahawks, with his trademark call. "Touchdown, Seahawks!"

Death

Gross died of cancer in 1992, aged 55,[4] three days after his entry into the Seahawks Ring of Honor. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center created the Pete Gross House, a 69-unit housing complex that provides living space for families of patients undergoing treatment at the Center, in his memory.[5] Pete Gross House also houses an administrative office for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

References
  1. Hugo Kugiya (November 29, 1992), "Honor And Courage", Seattle Times as reproduced at
  2. Tam Alumni Association (2007). Tamalpais High School Alumni: Today. Chesapeake, Virginia: Harris Connect. pp. xv, 410 pp
  3. Sacramento Capitols Yearbook 1968
  4. Craig Smith (December 3, 1992), "Cancer Claims Gross -- Voice Of Seahawks Dies At Age 55", The Seattle Times
  5. Pete Gross House
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