Richard 'Pick' Hobson was created in Illinois on May 15, 1911. He headed west in 1929, eventually landing in Reno where he worked as being a dealer in the Palace Club. After gaining some experience, and several friends, Pick invested his cash in a gaming operation on the Colombo Club at 244 Lake Street, inside Colombo Hotel. The Toscano Hotel, just outside, housed advertising for Pick's clubs for many years, reminding those driving by, to check out his other casinos.
Joe Hobson, Pick's brother, joined him inside a casino based in the tiny city of Hawthorne, Nevada through the Second World War, if the munitions facility is at full swing. Also in full swing 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 purchased the casino at 220 North Virginia Street.
The casino featured a bar, craps, 21, and roulette, and also a race-horse book. A bingo hall was added in 1948, and 30 slot machine games were brought-in by Virgil Smith. Later a Keno game was added as well as the table games expanded. By 1956 once the club was sold to Bill Harrah, there are 172 video poker machines.
Harrah paid nearly $1 million for the casino, and portion of his cost 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 was closed so he could expand the Overland. At the same time, Pick was operating the Gold Club in Sparks, as well as the Topaz Lodge at the California State Line.
Once again, Bill Harrah came knocking, offering to lease the Overland, nevertheless the hotel and casino immediately closed and 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, and also the hotel closed in November 1987. Pick gone after Portola, California soon afterwards. He died August 19, 1996, always remembered as being a very congenial check here boss who did his best to take care of his employees.