4 October, 2021
2021)—The Hopkinton Marathon Committee (HMC) has selected a starter for the
9:00 a.m. rolling start of the 125th Boston Marathon. The Boston Athletic Association has granted the HMC the
honor of starting the Boston Marathon’s later waves since 2006, when the race first introduced the wave start. This
year, with a rolling start rather than waves, just one starter position was available. The HMC selected Hopkinton
Fire Chief, Bill Miller, to fulfill the role.
“On behalf of the Hopkinton Marathon Committee we are pleased to announce that Hopkinton Fire Chief
Bill Miller will be the official starter for the rolling start of the Boston Marathon on Monday, October 11, 2021,”
said Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace, the chairperson of the Hopkinton Marathon Committee. “We wanted to honor a first
responder who unselfishly for the past 22 months worked on the front lines leading his department with retired Chief
Steve Slaman, ensuring the public safety of our residents amid the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Fire Chief
Bill Miller, a respected and proven leader, continued to champion his team through all the unknown and devastating
challenges this deadly Corona Virus inflicted on our community. The Fire Chief also serves as the Emergency
Management Director, who has had a daunting task in the middle of the pandemic. Bill represents Hopkinton’s first
responders who continue to courageously fight this pandemic with such strength and resilience and have saved lives
and showed heartfelt compassion along the way. He will represent all essential workers and first responders in our
town who are the heroes that left their families to help other in time of need.”
Miller, who was promoted to Chief this year, has worked for the Hopkinton Fire Department since 2000
and has been a part of the Boston Marathon since. “My initial roles were as a shift officer working different
locations such as the start line and runners village,” said Chief Miller, an Oxford, MA native. “When I was
promoted to Deputy Chief in 2016, I began developing the Incident Action Plan for the Fire Department. This plan
includes Marathon and non-Marathon responses and all resources needed for this spectacular event.”
“The Boston Marathon brings so much to our community,” said Ferriter-Wallace, who looks forward to the
return of some favorite local marathon traditions like honoring veterans tat the start. “We have all been through so
much over the past 22 months and we are fortunate to have an in-person race come October 11 th . My hope is that
people understand and be patient with the changes this year as we welcome runners of the world to Hopkinton.”
“Being asked to start the race is truly an honor and something I am very proud to do and what makes it
even more of an honor is that it is the 125th running,” said Miller, who will fire the starter’s pistol at 9 a.m.
The full start schedule is:
Military March 6:00 a.m.
Men’s Wheelchair 8:02 a.m.
Women’s Wheelchair 8:05 a.m.
Handcycle & Duo Participants 8:30 a.m.
Professional Men 8:37 a.m.
Professional Women 8:45 a.m.
Para Athletics Divisions 8:50 a.m.
Rolling start begins 9:00 a.m.
Rolling start ends 11:30 a.m.
The Hopkinton Marathon Committee was established in 1979 to work in conjunction with the Boston
Athletic Association (B.A.A.), the organizers of the Boston Marathon, to ensure that the annual running of the race
is an exciting, successful and safe event for all concerned. Committee members contribute their efforts throughout
the entire year to the planning, organization, and coordination of multiple facets of the race, working to protect the
best interests and welfare of the town, its residents, businesses and visitors.
