He competed in over a thousand road races alongside his wheelchair-bound son Rick. They achieved their greatest fame by participating in the Boston Marathon.
Dick Hoyt died Wednesday at his home in Holland, Massachusetts. He became famous for pushing his son Rick in a wheelchair during road races across the country, most notably the Boston Marathon.
He was 80 years old. The Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Boston Marathon, announced his death. The cause, according to his son Russ, was congestive heart failure.
Rick Hoyt, a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy who was unable to move or speak, was born in 1962. In his 2010 book “Devoted: The Story of a Father’s Love for His Son,” Dick Hoyt stated, “We had long since learned how to read our son’s grins and nods. But even though everyone in the family was skilled at figuring out what Rick needed, we were still only making educated guesses.”
However, Tufts University engineers developed a computer in 1972 that allowed Rick to select letters by touching his skull. His very first words were “Go Bruins,” demonstrating his enthusiasm for sports.
We are currently sending the family our thoughts and prayers. Please SHARE to help this man receive the praise he so well deserves.
