Bob Hall dies
Bob Hall, a pioneering figure in wheelchair racing and two‑time Boston Marathon winner, died on April 12, the Boston Athletic Association announced. (baa.org) He was 74, served as the 2025 marathon grand marshal, was described as the first officially recognized Boston Marathon wheelchair champion, and has been called the "father of wheelchair racing." ( )
Bob Hall, the wheelchair racer who pushed Boston Marathon organizers to recognize his division, died on April 12 at 74. (baa.org) The Boston Athletic Association said Hall’s family confirmed his death after a long illness, eight days before the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026. Hall served as grand marshal at the 2025 race, the 50th anniversary of his first Boston victory. (wbur.org) Hall entered the 1975 Boston Marathon after organizers agreed to give him a finisher’s certificate if he covered 26.2 miles in under three hours. He finished in 2:58 and won again in 1977, when Boston hosted the National Wheelchair Championship. (wbur.org) That 1975 ride opened a lane that did not previously exist in major marathoning. The Boston Athletic Association said nearly 2,000 wheelchair competitors have finished the race in the five decades since Hall’s first win. (baa.org) The field Hall helped create is now a regular part of race week in Boston. The 2026 marathon is set to include 50 wheelchair racers and 50 more athletes across eight para divisions competing for more than $300,000 in prize money. (wbur.org) Hall’s influence extended beyond racing results. The Boston Athletic Association said he helped turn everyday wheelchairs into specialized racing chairs, and many current elite racers grew up using equipment he designed. (baa.org) He also fought for access outside Boston. The Associated Press reported that Hall sued in 1978 to force the New York City Marathon to admit wheelchair racers, a battle that ended when the race added men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions in 2000. (wbur.org) Hall lost the use of both legs after childhood polio, then became a mentor to later generations of racers. WCVB reported that he also founded Hall’s Wheels and helped guide athletes including Bob Nichol and Jason Fowler. (wcvb.com) At the 2025 marathon, Hall said his first Boston start “was about the inclusion.” One year later, Boston heads into race week with the division he fought to establish still rolling behind him. (wbur.org)
