Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty, who will fire the pistol to start Wave 3, is part of the crew that makes sure Marathon Monday gets off to a good start. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Four longtime Hopkinton public servants have been chosen as the official starters for the final four waves of this year’s Boston Marathon on April 20.

This year, six waves of runners will start the race, two more than in past years. They will follow the more competitive divisions, including the wheelchair, hand cycles/duos, men, women and para athlete divisions, respectively.

The decision was made to optimize the flow of the 30,000 runners after working with crowd scientists, according to a statement released in March by the Boston Athletic Association, the marathon’s organizer since its inception in 1897. All athletes are anticipated to be across the starting line before 11:30 a.m., as in previous years. They will have the same amount of time to complete the course, with the finish line closing at 5:30 p.m. in Boston.

As a symbol of appreciation to the town, the BAA has allowed the Hopkinton Marathon Committee to choose the starters for the final race waves since 2006. This year’s honorees include former Water & Sewer manager Eric Carty, former Hopkinton Public Schools Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty and the Pyne family.

The Pyne family was chosen to honor its patriarch, Henry Arthur “Artie” Pyne. Artie Pyne, who died in January at the age of 84, gave 45 years of service to Hopkinton as a volunteer firefighter and special police detail officer.

Carty reflects on hometown connection

Carty, a lifelong Hopkinton resident, noted in an email that he has been a part of the town’s Marathon Day celebration his entire life in both personal and professional contexts. He called being chosen as the Wave 4 starter “the honor of a lifetime.”

“It is a true humbling honor to be recognized for my 40 years of service to the town and to be able to have my family there with me,” he stated.

“Being a kid and going up to the start every year was always something I looked forward to,” recalled Carty. “We would walk up or ride our bikes with our neighbors and enjoy all the vendors at the common and the crowds from all over the world!”

Before stepping into a management role, Carty noted that he worked for 16 years as part of the Department of Public Works team that helped with the town’s marathon preparations.

“After I got married, we would go up to my sister-in-law’s house each year and have breakfast before heading down to the start,” he reminisced. “When we had our own kids, we were able to have them participate in the tradition as well.”

As he fires the starting pistol, Carty shared that will be thinking about his mother.

“When I was a kid, she would always be out playing sports with me and would always bring me up to the starting line,” he stated.

Cavanaugh returns after retirement

After nine years of service to the Hopkinton Public Schools, Cavanaugh retired last June from her role as the district’s superintendent. She shared her enthusiasm over being selected as the Wave 5 starter and returning to Hopkinton.

“I am truly honored to serve as a Boston Marathon starter,” she wrote via email. “[W]hen invited to serve, I was really surprised; then flattered and finally super grateful — in that order.”

Added Cavanaugh: “In fact, I think I’m still all of those things!”

During her tenure, Cavanaugh experienced the Boston Marathon through school-based celebrations and community events. The former superintendent stressed “the electric anticipation at the start line.”

“I love how alive everyone feels on Marathon Day,” she stated. “The energy is unparalleled.”

“I’m not sure I had ever witnessed an athletic event celebrated so beautifully,” she noted. “I know that the run itself is a test of human endurance, but the race also celebrates our connected humanity — globally, nationally and locally.”

One of Cavanaugh’s fondest marathon memories was meeting Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the entire course in 1966. Gibb described her barrier-shattering run as well as her participation in the marathon the following two years at a local event Cavanaugh attended.

“I knew I was in the company of a resolved woman who broke the rules, carving out courses for women to run in every field of study, in every workplace, in every athletic contest,” Cavanaugh shared. “It has stayed with me, as does my indebtedness to Bobbi Gibb and the women like her who have changed history.”

Cavanaugh “never imagined” being chosen as a wave starter. She will be celebrating the day with her four grandchildren.

“For me, firing the starter pistol is a symbol in real life,” she stated. “[W]hile it’s an amazing culmination of my time in Hopkinton, it also serves as the start for so many runners and symbolizes the start of new courses brought on by retirement — for me, too.”

Fire chief plays instrumental role

Daugherty will fire the pistol to start Wave 3.

“The Marathon has always been more than just a race to me,” stated Daugherty in a press release regarding his two decades of involvement. “Through all the changes I’ve seen, the excitement and determination at each start line never changes.

“Personally, it’s inspiring to know that the event brings people from all over the world for a shared purpose,” he continued. “Professionally, it has also connected me with so many talented and dedicated individuals working toward a common goal.”

In addition to his role as fire chief, Daugherty serves as the marathon’s emergency management director. His leadership in establishing, coordinating and refining the complex safety and emergency operations plan is critical to Marathon Monday’s success. This plan supports more than 30,000 runners, 1,000 Hopkinton volunteers and countless spectators.

Pynes’ commitment to town honored

Jeff Pyne, who also has dedicated more than 20 years of service to Hopkinton, will fire the starting pistol for Wave 6 in honor of his father. He will be joined by family members on the platform. This moment will honor not only Artie Pyne’s tireless commitment but also a family tradition of service.

“I’ll be thinking of my dad,” stated Jeff Pyne in a press release. “He served the community as a volunteer firefighter for 45 years and continued his dedication as a detail officer, including working the marathon for many years after his retirement.

“As a family, we always looked forward to seeing him at the corner of Main and Grove streets,” he continued. “Honoring him in this moment will mean everything to us.”