Boston Marathon Icon, Dick Hoyt, Dies at 80

Dick Hoyt, a Boston Marathon icon, died Wednesday morning at the age of 80. He passed peacefully in his sleep due to heart failure.

Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick, ran their first Marathon together in 1980. Dick pushed Rick in a custom racing chair, according to the Boston Athletic Association. They ran their final Boston Marathon together in 2014, before Dick had to retire from running.

"Dick personified what it meant to a be a Boston Marathoner, showing determination, passion, and love every Patriots’ Day for more than three decades. He was not only a fan-favorite who inspired thousands, but also a loyal friend and father who took pride in spending quality time with his son Rick while running from Hopkinton to Boston," stated B.A.A. in a statement.