Bob Hall, a Cambridge native who survived infant polio, became the first officially recognized wheelchair champion of the Boston Marathon in 1975. After writing to race director Will Cloney in late 1974, Hall was granted official finisher status if he completed the 26.2‑mile course in under three‑and‑a‑half hours. He crossed the line in 2 hours 58 minutes, proving a wheelchair could compete alongside runners.

Hall’s 1975 breakthrough sparked a wave of disabled participation; by 1977 seven wheelchair racers entered Boston, and Hall reclaimed the title in 2 :40 :10. He later sued New York Road Runners, forcing the city marathon to admit wheelchair athletes in 1978‑79. In 1978 he founded Hall’s Wheels, producing lighter three‑wheel racing chairs that set industry standards.

Before his death at 74 from pneumonia complications, Hall served as coordinator of Boston’s wheelchair division and acted as 2025 grand marshal. Today the race awards $50,000 to men’s and women’s wheelchair winners, with bonuses for record‑breaking performances, reflecting Hall’s lasting influence. His advocacy turned a solitary 1975 effort into a global competitive sport.

Hall is survived by his wife Jane Raymond‑Hall, three sisters and a brother, and remains a symbol of perseverance for athletes worldwide.