© 2025 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
BTPM NPR Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
STAND WITH PUBLIC MEDIA | PROTECTMYPUBLICMEDIA.ORG

Remembering Dick Hoyt, Part Of The Iconic Father-Son Duo Who Became The Face Of The Boston Marathon

Dick and Rick Hoyt cross the finish line surrounded by supporters in the 118th Boston Marathon in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Dick and Rick Hoyt cross the finish line surrounded by supporters in the 118th Boston Marathon in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Dick Hoyt first pushed his son Rick’s wheelchair in a 5-mile race in 1977, after the younger Hoyt, living with quadriplegia and cerebral palsy, asked his dad to help support the local charity run.

That race lit a spark in the pair, who went on the run 32 Boston Marathons together and more than 1,000 other races, including triathlons and Iron Man competitions. Along the way, they founded the Hoyt Foundation that has donated millions to disability causes. Dick Hoyt was 80.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.