Robert Theron "Ron" Pinkney (May 26, 1935 – May 27, 2020) was an American pioneer broadcaster who was the first African-American play-by-play announcer on a major television network (ABC).

Pinkney became the Drive Time morning newscaster at WOL, the top-rated station in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

From 1968 to 1970, he was the voice of Morgan State football on WEBB, when the Golden Bears were coached by head coach Earl Banks, and featured future NFL stars Raymond Chester (Oakland Raiders), CB Mark Washington (Dallas Cowboys) and prominent alumnus William Rhoden, a track star, and New York Times columnist.

The Bears enjoyed a 33-game winning streak from 1967 to 1970 when Sam Lacy, Afro-American newspapers, sportswriter George Taliaferro, a former star halfback and Big Ten All-American at Indiana (NFL Baltimore Colts), and Ralph Jones (son of Grambling president R.W.E.

The FAMU Rattlers Hall of Fame head coach and then athletic director Alonza "Jake" Gaither handpicked him to work with another popular Atlanta broadcaster, Chico Renfro.

The game was piped into the campus of the Florida A&M and Jacksonville State University, Alabama (the first white school to play in the All-black classic).

He worked with the iconic sports information director Collie Nicholson,[3] who masterminded the Tigers rise to national prominence.

Los Angeles sports writer Betty Smith, considered the first woman sideline reporter was brought on board.

Joining the broadcast team were former NFL star Roger Brown in 1975 and Tom Gatewood (Notre Dame)in 1977.

Joining Pinkney in the broadcast booth were ex-North Carolina Central great and Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Sam Jones.