Speech #2
Biography

Biography: rick and Dick Hoyt

General Purpose: To Inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience on the amazing love and perseverance of Rick and Dick Hoyt.

Central Idea: Rick and Dick Hoyt have lived an extra ordinary life and have a story that has inspired many

Introduction

I. Attention material

A. The dictionary defines Agape love as; a selfless love of one person for another. B. This type of love puts all self ambition aside and does what is best for the other person at any costs.

II. Orienting Material

A. Today I want to share with you the story of a father and son who in my opinion epitomize the definition of agape love.

Transition: If you were to see Rick and Dick Hoyt out an about on any given day, you might feel pity for them, but I’m here to tell you that pity is something these two have never taken upon themselves.

Body

I. According to the Team Hoyt website, in October of 2013; Rick was born to Dick and Judy Hoyt in 1962.

A. As a result of oxygen depravation during childbirth was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. B. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that that effect body movement and muscle coordination. C. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Rick had the most severe type of cerebral palsy. It is often accompanied by severe intellectual disabilities. D. Rick’s doctors had advised Dick and Judy to put Rick in an institution for the rest of his life, because he would only be vegetable and didn’t stand a chance at living a normal life. Transition: His parents refused, stating they could tell he was bright boy by the looks in his eyes, and in few short years they were going to find out just what an amazing young man rick was.

II. In 1972 a group of engineers from Tufts University in Massachusetts, designed an interactive computer for Rick.

A. The computer consisted of a cursor that continuously highlighted each letter of the alphabet and a head piece attached to his wheel chair that would stop the cursor on the letter of Rick’s choice when he tapped the piece with his head. B. The Hoyt family had a large gathering over that night and all took bets on what Rick’s first world would be. C. The Bruins were going for the Stanley Cup at the time and while most bets were his first words would be “Hi Mom”, they were instead, “Go Bruins!” D. Rick was eventually put into public school, graduated from high school and even graduated from Boston University with a degree in special education. E. Rick later worked in the computer lab at Boston University and was able to help develop systems of communication for the disabled.

Transition: However it was the spring of 1972 that would change the Hoyt’s lives forever.

III. A young lacrosse player had in been injured in a car wreck and paralyzed.

A. There was a 5 mile run being held to benefit the young man. B. Rick had told his Dad that he wanted to run in the race to show the young man that life is not over just because he is disabled. C. Dick had had little running experience in but decided to go anyways D. Dick ran the 5 miles while pushing rick in his chair in front of him. They said most people thought they would turn the corner and sit down, but they finished the race, coming in second to last. E. When the race was done rick told his dad, “Dad when I’m running it feels like I’m not disabled.” F. Dick started running everyday with a bag of cement in ricks chair, while rick was at school. And after much practice the two were able to finish a 5k in 17 minutes. G. Dick retired and dedicated himself to competing with his Son, as of April 2012 the two have raced over 1077 total events. H. 247 of the events were triathlons, which consist of swimming, biking and running. I. During a triathlon Dick starts the swimming portion off but putting his son in a 5ft rubber dingy with a cord tied around his belly, he then carries his son to a specially made tandem bike where rick sits in the front, and for the running portion he pushed rick in his special chair. J. Dick has always wanted his son to live a normal life. He dedicated his life to ensuring that his son has the best life possible, at any cost. K. Dick stated in an interview, that something gets into him when he pushes rick something that makes him go faster then if he were competing alone. L. Rick was once asked if he could give his father one thing, what would it be, “the thing I would most like is for my Dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”

Transition: Rick and Dick Hoyt have lived an incredible story of love and perseverance.

Conclusion

I. Summary

A. Dick and Judy Hoyt were told to put their son in an institution for the rest of his life because he would never be able to live a normal life. B. Ricks life has been anything but normal, it as been extraordinary. C. They have fought through many barriers in the past forty or so years, and have been able to inspire people around the globe.

II. Clincher

A. When they Hoyts wanted to run their first marathon in 1981, they wanted it to be the Boston marathon. Their application was rejected, but they ran it anyways. They had to run unofficially for three years until they were accepted as official participants in the famous marathon. B. In April of 2013 a life size bronze statue of the father son team was erected right by the starting line of the marathon. C. While some people might have grown bitter and just gave up, the Hoyts kept love and perseverance in their hearts and have a wonderful story to tell because of this.

Bibliography Lazdowski, Paul. “Dick and Rick Hoyt Honored with Statue.” The Boston Globe. 08 Apr. 2013. Print. Trishman, Robert. “Father-Son duo inspires millions.” Desert News. Apr. 2011. Web. 12 Oct.2013

Team Hoyt. “The Early Years.” Web. 12 Oct.2013