Harry Donahue, Philadelphia sports radio legend, dead at 77

A Philadelphia sports radio staple died at 77 following a battle with cancer. 

Harry Donahue, a longtime sports and morning drive anchor at KYW Newsradio, died Wednesday, the station’s parent company, Audacy, announced. 

Donahue had a 35-year career at the station, which began in 1974 as a freelance reporter before he started work as an anchor in 1979. 

Harry Donahue in the KYW Newsradio studio. KYW Newsradio.

Across the course of his career, Donahue served as the play-by-play voice for the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars in the 1980s, and he was the TV and radio voice for Temple University football and basketball. 

He started working with Temple in 1984, broadcasting select football games on the radio. He started calling basketball games on TV in 1987. 

Donahue went back to calling Temple football in 1993 and again called men’s basketball in 2002. 

“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of longtime Voice of the Owls, Harry Donahue,” Temple said in a post on social media. “A Philadelphia broadcasting legend, his Temple career spanned five decades, bringing the passion and pride of Temple Athletics to fans across the city and beyond.

“Our love and thoughts go out to the Donahue family and the Owl community.”

Harry Donahue died at the age of 77. Harry Donohue/X

Among his other highlights were hosting “Inside Golf” on Comcast SportsNet. He also called preseason games on TV for the Eagles and did A-10 basketball and 76ers games. 

He retired from working at KYW in 2014. 

“Who gets a chance to cover these types of teams, these types of individuals in the city where they grew up,” Donahue said during KYW’s 60th anniversary celebration. “That was the special part for me.”

Donahue was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, the KYW Newsradio Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Temple Basketball Ring of Honor in 2020.