Wheelchair‑racing pioneer dies

Bob Hall, the racer who forced open marathon competition for wheelchair athletes, has died at 74, the Boston Athletic Association said Sunday. (apnews.com) Hall entered the 1975 Boston Marathon after organizers agreed to let him race if he finished under three hours. He crossed in 2:58:00 and became the first officially recognized wheelchair finisher in the event. (baa.org) He won Boston’s wheelchair race in 1975 and 1977, and the Boston Athletic Association said his family confirmed his death after a long illness on April 12, 2026. (apnews.com) Wheelchair racing was barely established in road marathons when Hall started pushing in Boston. The association said nearly 2,000 wheelchair competitors have finished the race in the five decades since his first run. (baa.org) Hall’s influence extended beyond his own results. He built racing chairs through a company called Hall’s Wheels, helping move the sport from everyday wheelchairs to lighter machines designed for speed and distance. (baa.org; wcvb.com) The Associated Press described Hall as a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing. Boston Marathon organizers said many current stars grew up using chairs he designed. (apnews.com; baa.org) Boston brought Hall back in 2025 as a grand marshal for the 129th marathon, marking 50 years since his first victory. The association said he pushed the final stretch on Boylston Street and crossed the finish line one last time. (baa.org) His death comes eight days before the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, returning attention to the athlete whose 1975 finish turned a one-off exception into a permanent part of the race. (wcvb.com; baa.org)