Richard 'Pick' Hobson was given birth to in Illinois on May 15, 1911. He headed west in 1929, eventually landing in Reno where he worked as being a dealer with the Palace Club. After gaining some experience, and a few friends, Pick invested his money in a gaming operation at the Colombo Club at 244 Lake Street, inside Colombo Hotel. The Toscano Hotel, just outside, housed advertising for Pick's clubs for a long time, reminding those driving by, to check out his other casinos.
Joe Hobson, Pick's brother, joined him in the casino based in the tiny capital of scotland - Hawthorne, Nevada during the Second World War, if the munitions facility is at full swing. Also arrived were the constantly fighting service men around, working at the munitions facility. The Pick returned to Reno in 1943 and opened 'Pick's Club,' which reopened in 1946 since the Frontier Club when Joe committed to the casino at 220 North Virginia Street.
The casino featured a bar, craps, 21, and roulette, including a race-horse book. A bingo hall was included 1948, and 30 slot machines were brought-in by Virgil Smith. Later a Keno game was added along with the table games expanded. By 1956 once the club was sold to Bill Harrah, there are 172 slots.
Harrah paid nearly $1 million to the casino, and section of his purchase price was a stipulation that Hobson wouldn't normally operate another casino for three years. In 1960, Pick purchased the Overland Hotel, just around the corner on Commercial and Center Street. The club backed-up to his old Lake Street casino.
In 1970, Pick purchased the Cosmo Club, which he operated for four years until it absolutely was closed so he could expand the Overland. At the same time, Pick was operating the Gold Club in Sparks, and the Topaz Lodge in the California State Line.
Once again, Bill Harrah came knocking, offering to lease the Overland, though the hotel and casino immediately closed and also the property was demolished in June 1977. The Cosmo Club has also been demolished, and Harrah purchased the Riverside hotel casino from Jessie Beck and traded it to Hobson in exchange for that Overland and Cosmo Club land.
Pick Hobson was the past owner of the Riverside casino, which closed in December 1986. An auction of slots and memorabilia from the Riverside and also the Overland happened, and the hotel closed in November 1987. Pick transferred to Portola, California soon afterwards. He perished August read more 19, 1996, always remembered as a very congenial boss who did his far better to take care of his employees.