Local broadcasting legend Ray Goss has died at the age of 89.
Goss was still recovering from an auto accident on April 2nd when he passed. His broadcasting career started in the 1950s, joining WDAD in Indiana and eventually becoming the general manager there before going on to co-found WRID in October of 1983, which would later become WCCS in 1986. Goss would retire from WCCS in 1989, but would remain active in broadcasting with the Duquesne Dukes for 58 seasons. In a 2025 interview, Goss said he was blessed to have such a long career.
Duquesne University photo
With Bill Hillgrove (Bertig photo)
Duquesne University photo
Renda Media General Manager Mark Bertig called Goss one of his mentors who taught him not just the sales side of the business, but sports broadcasting as well.
Bertig released the following statement:
Ray Goss was not only a legendary figure in broadcasting, but also a mentor who had a profound impact on my career and the careers of so many others. I have been fortunate to learn from great leaders, including Tony Renda, but it was Ray who first taught me both the sales and sports broadcasting sides of this business. His guidance helped shape my career.
I had the privilege of working alongside Ray early in my career at WCCS in the mid 1980s, where he and his partner, Mark Harley, built the station into a true powerhouse that came to dominate the market at the time, something that many thought couldn’t be done. It was special to be part of that. Ray was an exceptional sales trainer, a visionary broadcaster, and a leader whose influence extended far beyond the station.
His legacy also includes his remarkable and widely respected work as the voice of the Duquesne Dukes, where he became synonymous with excellence in sports broadcasting. I am on the PA Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors and it was just three years ago we inducted both Ray and Bill Hillgrove into the PAB Hall of Fame. They are both Duquesne grads.
Over the past several weeks, I had the opportunity to visit Ray in the hospital following his accident. Even then, he remained in great spirits—determined, positive, and focused on recovery. That is why today’s news is especially heartbreaking.
Ray Goss leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in broadcasting, mentorship, and community impact, including still serving as the voice of the Indiana County Fair. He will be deeply missed, but his influence will continue to be felt for generations to come.
— Mark Bertig
Regional Vice President / General Manager
Renda Media
Sportscaster Jack Benedict said that he was hired by Goss twice, once for WDAD and once for WCCS, and the two remained lifelong friends. He said that Goss was a man who loved his job.
Goss was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2023. He was inducted alongside Pittsburgh TV and Radio sports broadcasting legend Bill Hillgrove, who talked about how kind a man he was.
Goss also received the Outstanding Achievement in Media Award by the Media Associates in Pittsburgh and the Woody Durham Voice of College Sports award in 2025, and a few weeks ago, received the Chuck Cooper Centennial Award from Duquesne this year.
He also was the voice of the Indiana County Fair for many years with duties ranging from announcing events to promoting the fair on the radio. Ed Nehrig with the fair board said that he was a great volunteer.
He was also a published author, drawing on his years of experience to publish the memoir “Misadventures In Broadcasting” in 2008.
Funeral arrangements for Ray Goss have not yet been released.
To view a video interview with Goss and Hillgrove, with Bertig, click on the player below.
