Tom Bender (sportscaster)

Tom Bender
Born
Thomas William Bender, Jr.

(1925-01-08)January 8, 1925
Lilly, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 29, 1995(1995-01-29) (aged 70)
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Other nameThomas Bender
OccupationsRadio announcer, sportscaster, radio host, radio personality
Years active1946–1995
Spouse
Marjorie Beiter
​
(m. 1951)​
Children6  
Sports commentary career
Team(s)Pittsburgh Panthers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Duquesne Dukes
Genre(s)Play-by-play, color commentary  
Sport(s)Football, baseball, basketball, golf  

Thomas William Bender Jr. (January 8, 1925 – January 29, 1995) was an American radio and television sportscaster known for his work as a play-by-play announcer and color commentator for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was also a radio and TV host for KDKA (AM), KDKA-TV, WTAE (AM), and WTAE-TV.

Early life

Tom Bender was born on January 8, 1925, in Lilly, Pennsylvania.[1] His father, Thomas William Bender Sr., was a World War I U.S. Army veteran.[2] After graduating from Harrisburg High School in 1943, Bender served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and remained in the Navy until 1946.[2][3] He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Mount St. Mary's University.[3]

Broadcasting career

Pittsburgh Panthers

After several broadcasting gigs in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and South Carolina throughout the 1940s and 1950s, KDKA hired Bender in 1955 as their full-time sports director to host several sports talk shows and cover Pittsburgh sporting events on KDKA (AM) and KDKA-TV.[3][4][5][6][7] With this new job opportunity, Bender called Pittsburgh Panthers football as their play-by-play announcer in 1956 with color commentators Dick Cassiano and Bill Sutherland.[8][9][10][11]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Bender also worked as an announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates on KDKA from 1957 to 1970. Although he never called the games, he hosted the pregame and postgame shows with Bob Prince and interviewed the players.[12][13][14][15] Bender also hosted a doubleheader show, "Tom Bender's Pirate Dugout," featuring more Pirates interviews.[16][17] In addition to the game interviews, Bender conducted interviews with Pirates general manager Joe L. Brown on "The Joe L. Brown Show."[18][19] When the Pirates played and won the 1960 World Series, Bender hosted the pregame show, "Series Special," and the postgame show, "Series Today" on KDKA, where he interviewed the World Series champions.[20]

Bender also did play-by-play for various exhibition games featuring then-current and former Pirates, as well as for the local Pittsburgh media and press.[21][22][23]

Pittsburgh Steelers

Bender began working with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a color commentator on KDKA in 1957, joining play-by-play announcers Joe Tucker and Red Donley.[24][25] From 1964 to 1969, Bender broadcast Steelers games with play-by-play announcer Jack Fleming.[26][27][28] From 1970 to 1973, Bender and Fleming announced the games with famed journalist and radio personality Myron Cope on WTAE.[29][30]

In 1969, Bender hosted "The Chuck Noll Show", where he conducted interviews with Steelers head coach Chuck Noll on KDKA.[31] From 1970 to 1973, he hosted "Tom Bender Sports" on WTAE, a daily weekday evening sports talk show that was WTAE's first, featuring guests such as Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw and pro wrestler Bruno Sammartino.[32][15] He won the Sigma Delta Chi Award in 1972 for Best Sports Show and Pittsburgh's Golden Quill Award in 1973.[15] Later that year, WTAE laid off Bender, and Myron Cope took over for the Pittsburgh Steelers games and WTAE's sports talk show, which was renamed "Myron Cope on Sports" and ran until 1995, when Bill Hillgrove took over.[33][34]

Bender rejoined the Steelers' radio broadcast team in 1979 for the team's 35–31 Super Bowl XIII victory, calling Lynn Swann's game-sealing touchdown with Jack Fleming and staying through the postgame show.[35]

Penn State Nittany Lions

Bender announced Penn State Nittany Lions football games on WMAJ and KDKA as a color commentator from 1959 to 1961 with Mickey Bergstein on play-by-play in 1959 and Gene Kelly on play-by-play in 1960 and 1961.[36][37] In 1962, the Penn State radio network promoted him to play-by-play announcer, with Randy Hall as color commentator.[38][39][40][41] Mickey Bergstein joined Bender on color commentary from 1963 to 1966, followed by Fran Fisher from 1966 to 1969.[42][43][44][45] As announcer, Bender notably called the Nittany Lions' victories in the 1959 Liberty Bowl, the 1960 Liberty Bowl, the 1961 Gator Bowl, the 1967 Gator Bowl, the 1969 Orange Bowl, and the 1970 Orange Bowl. After Penn State won the 1970 Orange Bowl, Bender attended a celebratory dinner for the team.[46] Fran Fisher became the play-by-play announcer later that year with Jim Tarman at color commentator after Bender left for WTAE.[47]

Duquesne Dukes

Bender briefly broadcast Duquesne Dukes men's basketball games with color commentator Charlie Hinkle on KDKA from 1963 to 1966.[48][49]

Other work

Bender's work as a radio announcer led him to participate in charity events in Pittsburgh for numerous organizations and hospitals.[50][22] He announced the Dapper Dan Charities golf tournament and the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh benefit basketball games during his time on KDKA.[51][23]

When not on the radio or TV, Bender occasionally served as an emcee for numerous dinner parties and events in the Pittsburgh area, where he shared humorous stories with the audiences.[52][2]

Florida

In May 1974, Bender moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where he joined WINK-TV as its sports director and covered the Fort Myers Green Wave high school teams until 1976, when sports reporter Craig Sager served as sports director until 1978.[53][54][15] WINK-TV promoted him to news director in 1976, a role he held until his retirement in 1992 while continuing sports commentaries and occasionally filling in as sports director.[55][15] He also served as the station's community relations director until 1992.[15][56] He ran a dog racing track from 1992 to 1995.[57][58] Various fans and friends also moved to Fort Myers, including his friend and coworker at KDKA, Art Pallan, in 1985.[15][56]

Personal life

Tom Bender and his wife, Marjorie Bender (née Beiter), married on May 5, 1951, in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.[59][60][61][62][63] They had three daughters, three sons, and four grandchildren.[57][58] Family, friends, and coworkers knew Bender as a professional, hardworking family man with a good sense of humor and a fun personality.[52][2][54][56]

Bender died on January 29, 1995, in Fort Myers, Florida.[1][19][64]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bender, Tom, 1925-1995". Library of Congress. Library of Congress. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Pittsburgh Press - Features". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. April 8, 1973. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. 1 2 3 "Tom Bender Joins Staff of KDKA". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. May 22, 1955. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ↑ "News in Depth". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. June 7, 1955. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ↑ "Program Notes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. August 20, 1955. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  6. ↑ "Highlights On Radio". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. October 12, 1962. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "Weekend Highlights". The News-Dispatch. Jeannette, PA: Jeannette Publishing Co. August 13, 1965. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Remington, Fred (August 10, 1956). "Bender Broadcasts Pitt Games". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E. W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Tom Bender Gets Pitt Assignment". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E. W. Scripps Company. August 11, 1956. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ↑ "Broadcasting Team for Pitt Grid Contests". The Waynesburg Republican. Waynesburg, PA. September 19, 1956. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  11. ↑ "Pitt Football on KDKA 1020 Radio". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. September 21, 1956. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspaper.com.Open access icon
  12. ↑ "Program Notes". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. March 8, 1957. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  13. ↑ "Camera Work, Announcing Poor In Pirate Parade: Tom Bender Gets A Plug". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. September 29, 1960. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  14. ↑ "Highlights On Radio". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. April 8, 1963. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Utterback, Bill (August 18, 1986). "Bender still has lot to talk about". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ "Highlights On Radio". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. July 23, 1961. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  17. ↑ "Highlights On Radio". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. July 4, 1962. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  18. ↑ "Complete Radio Program". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Pittsburgh, PA: Hearst Communications. September 13, 1959. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  19. 1 2 "Former sportscaster Bender dies". Observer-Reporter. Washington, PA: Observer Publishing Company. January 30, 1995. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  20. ↑ "Highlights On Radio". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. October 5, 1960. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  21. ↑ "Press-KDKA Affair Getting The Air". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. August 9, 1958. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  22. 1 2 "Radio Programs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. November 29, 1961. Retrieved April 16, 2026.Open access icon
  23. 1 2 "Basketball Hits Early Local Peak". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. December 3, 1961. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  24. ↑ Remington, Fred (August 7, 1957). "40 Radio Stations Lined Up for 18 Steeler Games". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  25. ↑ Remington, Fred (October 20, 1957). "Joe, Red, Tom Are Steelers' Voices". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  26. ↑ Sell, Jack (June 12, 1964). "New TV Format Set for Steelers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  27. ↑ Leonard, Vince (November 7, 1967). "Heat's On Sometimes For Traveling Man Tom". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  28. ↑ Leonard, Vince (December 23, 1968). "The Viewers Speak: Of Team Retention And Just Plain Teams". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  29. ↑ "Steeler Games Back on WTAE". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. March 10, 1971. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  30. ↑ "On the Air". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. May 17, 1972. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  31. ↑ "Coach Noll Starts Own Radio Program". Observer-Reporter. Washington, PA: Observer Publishing Company. August 16, 1969. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  32. ↑ Livingston, Pat (February 18, 1972). "Nelson Briles: No, It Isn't So". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  33. ↑ Holsopple, Barbara (August 7, 1973). "WTAE-Radio Leaves Bender Adrift As Cope Takes Over". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Google Books.
  34. ↑ "On the Air". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. August 8, 1973. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  35. ↑ Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network (April 17, 2023). "Super Bowl XIII Steelers vs Cowboys - TV Synced w/Fleming & Cope" (video). mcmillenandwife. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via YouTube.
  36. ↑ "Gene Kelly Joins Lion Radio Team". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. September 11, 1960. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  37. ↑ Padwe, Sandy (October 15, 1960). "Lions Shoot For Upset". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  38. ↑ "Bender to Air Lion Games". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. September 16, 1962. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  39. ↑ Lott, John (November 17, 1964). "Houston and The Dome". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  40. ↑ Weichel, Penny (October 21, 1969). "Mind Bending Broadcasting". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  41. ↑ Weichel, Penny (October 21, 1969). "Mind Bending Broadcasting". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  42. ↑ "The Daily Collegian Sports Staff". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. October 12, 1963. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  43. ↑ "Lion-Panther lineup". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. November 22, 1963. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  44. ↑ "Army Game on TV At Noon Tomorrow". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. October 1, 1966. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  45. ↑ "Lions Heard on Radio". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. September 27, 1967. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  46. ↑ "Governor Raymond P. Shafer letter to Tom Bender". Penn State University Libraries. Pennsylvania State University Libraries. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  47. ↑ Russ, Chuck (September 21, 1979). "Lions' grid broadcasts traverse entire country". The Daily Collegian. State College, PA: Collegian, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive.
  48. ↑ Sell, Jack (February 12, 1964). "City College Quintets in Action Tonight". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  49. ↑ "Hear the Action - Duquesne Basketball". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. February 24, 1966. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  50. ↑ "Big Radio Coverage Set For Benefit". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. November 27, 1961. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  51. ↑ "Radio, TV Stars to 'Ace' Air Play". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. September 15, 1961. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  52. 1 2 Abrams, Al (January 23, 1959). "Recruiting in "Reverse"". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  53. ↑ "Tom Bender Joins WINK". The News-Press. Fort Myers, FL: USA Today Co. May 26, 1974. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  54. 1 2 Picking, Ken (November 2, 1975). "Tom Bender - 'An Extremely Popular Professional'". The News-Press. Fort Myers, FL: USA Today Co. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  55. ↑ "Bender Named News Director". The News-Press. Fort Myers, FL: E.W. Scripps Company. February 29, 1976. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  56. 1 2 3 Kilpatrick, Bill (January 31, 1995). "Lee County loses a bit of sunshine". The News-Press. Fort Myers, FL: USA Today Co. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  57. 1 2 Ackerman, Jan (January 30, 1995). "Thomas Bender Jr., local sportscaster on radio and TV". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA: E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  58. 1 2 "Former Sportscaster Tom Bender Dies". Tyrone Daily Herald. Tyrone, PA: Sample News Group. January 31, 1995. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  59. ↑ "Marriage Licenses". The Patriot. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. April 25, 1951. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  60. ↑ "Miss Beiter's Wedding May 5". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. April 25, 1951. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  61. ↑ "Miss Beiter Weds May 5". The Patriot. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. April 28, 1951. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  62. ↑ "Marjorie Beiter Bride Of Thomas W. Bender, Jr". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. May 5, 1951. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  63. ↑ "Wed in New Cumberland Church". The Patriot. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. May 7, 1951. Retrieved March 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  64. ↑ "Names & Faces - Deaths". The Daily Item. Sunbury, PA: Local Media Group. January 31, 1995. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon

See also

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