Rick & Tony Palmer
Rick and Tony Palmer, the sons of Les and Barb Palmer, were raised on a dairy farm in the rural Belleville area. In 1969, they were both diagnosed with Duchenne’s, the most aggressive form of muscular dystrophy. Tony was seven at the time and Rick was barely one year old. Both began using a wheelchair during their early years in elementary school.
Their inability to walk did not diminish their love of sports, music, or their concern for family and friends. Tony was a devoted Packer fan and frequently watched one football game on TV while he listened to another game on the radio. Rick’s passion was the UW-Madison Badger Hockey team. He was also an avid bird watcher and painter.
They both had the opportunity to attend Muscular Dystrophy camp, an experience that became the highlight of their summers. Tony graduated from Madison Memorial High School and Rick from Verona High School. As their disease progressed, their physical abilities diminished. They died at the ages of 22 and 26, respectively. Friends and family remember them as warm, caring individuals who displayed an inspirational enthusiasm for life.
Please join our community at Jerry's Race Against Childhood Diseases as we celebrate the lives of Tony and Rick Palmer.
