Lika Starr

I came across the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, a.k.a. Team Hoyt, about a year ago on a national network. Upon that first viewing I was touched deeply and I believe I cried (yeah, I do that sometimes). Rick is the son of Dick Hoyt and the duo makes an astounding example of the love and compassion between a father and son.

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 with cerebral palsy resulting from being strangled by the umbilical cord during his birth. Rick had no control over his limbs nor would ever be able to speak. His parents were told their child had no chance of development and it was recommended that Rick be institutionalized. Rick’s mother and father, Dick and Judy Hoyt, wouldn’t hear of it. They were determined to give their son a normal life as much as possible and they did just that.

What would happen over the next 45 years is more than a story of relentless love and compassion. It’s a story of determination and motivation that transcends the world of the handicapped and parenthood. They Hoyt’s “you can” motto and attitude is the ultimate inspiration in itself and can encourage anyone in everyday life - yeah, it’s that powerful.

His parents knew it all along but at about age 10 engineers from Tufts University learned that Rick could communicate when they told him a joke and he laughed. With $5000 raised by his parents the engineers built an interactive computer that Rick could control with his head. His first words when they brought the computer home were “Go Bruins.” At the time the Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals and it was at that moment his parents knew he liked sports.

A few years later Rick told his dad he wanted to participate in a 5-mile to benefit a lacrosse player that had been paralyzed in an accident. Rick’s out of shape father agreed to push his son in a wheel chair. The pair came in second to last but in their minds they were second to none. Rick told his parents that while they were running he didn’t feel handicapped.

It was that feeling of freedom that inspired what would become Team Hoyt. Now at ages 67 and 45 the father and son team have completed nearly 1000 events. Including a cross country trek on bike and foot for 3,735 miles in 45 days in 1992. That’s a milestone by the highest standards. There is no end in sight as the Team Hoyt’s calendar indicates.

It’s started out as short runs and then led marathons and triathlons which meant that Dick had to learn to swim for the first time. He said when he first started training for the triathlons he’d sink like a rock. Whether Dick is pushing his son Rick in a wheelchair, riding a bike with his son strapped to the handlebars or swimming with his in a boat tied to his waist they always cross the finish line.

The media coverage always focuses on Dick Hoyt being the hero and Rick Hoyt is the first to agree. In an interview he typed, “No question about it, my dad is the father of the Century.”

While that is certainly true it also goes a lot deeper than that. They inspire each other and set the perfect example of what can be achieved through dedication and commitment.

They don’t just do this for themselves either. It may have started out that way but now it’s just as much about helping others too. And not just in the world of handicapped individuals. Team Hoyt is regularly out on motivational speaking tours across the US where they speak not only for handicapped and athletic organizations but also large corporate functions for the pure motivational aspect.

Rick Hoyt has also had his own of impressive accomplishments. He graduate Boston University and is now employed at the Boston College computer lab where he is helping to develop an eye-controlled system to be used by patients in controlling mechanical devices such as wheelchairs.

Lika Starr

Lika