Richard 'Pick' Hobson was born in Illinois on May 15, 1911. He headed west in 1929, eventually landing in Reno where he worked being a dealer on the Palace Club. After gaining some experience, and several friends, Pick invested his take advantage a gaming operation on the Colombo Club at 244 Lake Street, inside the Colombo Hotel. The Toscano Hotel, just across town, housed advertising for Pick's clubs for decades, reminding those driving by, to check out his other casinos.
Joe Hobson, Pick's brother, joined him in the casino perfectly located at the tiny town of Hawthorne, Nevada in the Second World War, once the munitions facility is at full swing. Also under way were the constantly fighting service men in the city, working in the munitions facility. The Pick returned to Reno in 1943 and opened 'Pick's Club,' which reopened in 1946 as the Frontier Club when Joe invested in 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 slots were brought-in by Virgil Smith. Later a Keno game was added and the table games expanded. By 1956 in the event the club was sold to Bill Harrah, there are 172 video poker machines.
Harrah paid nearly $1 million for the casino, and section of his purchase price was a stipulation that Hobson may not 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, that they operated for four years until it had been closed so he could expand the Overland. At the same time, Pick was operating the Gold Club in Sparks, along with the Topaz Lodge on the California State Line.
Once again, Bill Harrah came knocking, offering to lease the Overland, however the hotel and casino immediately closed as well as the property was demolished in June 1977. The Cosmo Club have also been demolished, and Harrah purchased the Riverside hotel casino from Jessie Beck and traded it to Hobson in exchange for the 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 as well as the Overland was held, as well as the hotel closed in November 1987. Pick moved to Portola, California soon afterwards. He died August 19, 1996, always remembered as being a very website congenial boss who did his better to take care of his employees.