On Dec. 27, 1975, The Terrible Towel debuted.

It was the creation of legendary sports radio broadcaster Myron Cope, who worked for WTAE — the Pittsburgh Steelers’ flagship station. Cope urged fans in advance of the 1975 AFC Divisional Playoff game — against the Baltimore Colts — to bring a yellow or black dish towel to the game and wave them to cheer on the team.

Many of the 50,000 fans in attendance at Three Rivers Stadium listened to Cope and waved their towels as they witnessed linebacker Andy Russell’s 93-yard fumble recovery and return for a touchdown, as the Steelers went on to win, 28-10.

Proceeds from the towel have raised over $6 million for Allegheny Valley School in Coraopolis, where Cope’s autistic son Daniel spent most of his life. The school provides care for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

In 1996, Cope gave the rights to The Terrible Towel to the Allegheny Valley School.

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