Bob Hall and Bill Rodgers have been announced as the grand marshals for the 2025 Boston Marathon, 50 years after their influential racing debut. Hall, recognized as the first wheelchair athlete to compete officially in the event, finished the marathon in under three hours, helping establish the wheelchair division. Rodgers, a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon, also made his debut in 1975. Hall's contributions earned him this year's Dick and Rick Hoyt Award, celebrating his impact and advocacy for inclusion in racing.
At a moment when wheelchair athletes were often excluded from mainstream competitions, Hall's relentless drive and his belief that racing belonged to everyone helped convince organizers to allow him to race.
His 1975 finish in just under 3 hours wasn't just a personal triumph, it was truly a turning point for the sport.
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