The News
Friday 29 of March 2024

Boston Marathon starting line painter retires after 37 years


FILE - In this April 15, 2015, file photo, Boston Marathon start line painter Jacques LeDuc lifts the stencil for the letter
FILE - In this April 15, 2015, file photo, Boston Marathon start line painter Jacques LeDuc lifts the stencil for the letter "S" as he paints the line in Hopkinton, Mass. LeDuc, who painted it for nearly four decades, is retiring from the task. The Boston Athletic Association said it will search for a replacement to paint the line ahead of the April 16, 2018 race. (Ken McGagh/The Metro West Daily News via AP, File)/,FILE - In this April 15, 2015, file photo, Boston Marathon start line painter Jacques LeDuc lifts the stencil for the letter "S" as he paints the line in Hopkinton, Mass. LeDuc, who painted it for nearly four decades, is retiring from the task. The Boston Athletic Association said it will search for a replacement to paint the line ahead of the April 16, 2018 race. (Ken McGagh/The Metro West Daily News via AP, File)/
The man who painted the Boston Marathon's starting line for nearly four decades has reached the finish line. Jacques LeDuc announced his retirement this week. The 67-year-old LeDuc first volunteered to paint the line in 1981, which until that time had been a simple white stripe. LeDuc for years came up with his own designs but now the Boston Athletic Association selects a design that matches the finish line.

HOPKINTON, Mass. (AP) — The man who painted the Boston Marathon’s starting line for nearly four decades has reached the finish line.

The MetroWest Daily News reports that Jacques LeDuc announced his retirement at the Hopkinton Marathon Committee’s meeting this week. The nonprofit coordinates with the Boston Athletic Association to ensure a smooth start to the annual race.

The 67-year-old LeDuc first volunteered to paint the line in 1981, which until that time had been a simple white stripe.

LeDuc for years came up with his own designs but now the Boston Athletic Association selects a design that matches the finish line.

The BAA will work to find a “suitable replacement” to paint the start for this year’s race on April 16.

But former race director Tim Kilduff says LeDuc can’t be replaced.

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Information from: MetroWest Daily News (Framingham, Mass.), http://www.metrowestdailynews.com