Robert LeGrande "Bob" Rice (August 15, 1929 – August 30, 2007) was an American health club pioneer and philanthropist. Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, location of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, bears his name. Rice donated $1 million in 1972 to renovate the stadium, then known as Ute Stadium; the Eccles name was added to the stadium in 1998.[1]
A former bodybuilder, Rice started a gym in Salt Lake City in 1952, eventually growing into Health Industries, known as European Health Spas Inc., with nearly 200 locations and more than a half-million members by the 1970s. At the time, it was the largest health club chain in the world and the first of its kind in the United States.[2] He sold the company in 1974 but later became chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Spa Fitness Centers Inc. Rice played a key role in lobbying for legislation in 1981 to prevent deceitful practices by gyms.
Rice (chairman of the board), along with Howard Newson (president) and George Stevens (vice president of finance), in the mid-1980s, took Spa Lady USA and Spa Lady Corporation public. Both corporations owned and operated health facilities on the East Coast. David Gladstone of Allied Capital Corporation was instrumental in providing the venture capital funds needed for the joint company's planned expansion.
robert, rice, robert, legrande, rice, august, 1929, august, 2007, american, health, club, pioneer, philanthropist, rice, eccles, stadium, university, utah, location, opening, closing, ceremonies, 2002, winter, olympics, bears, name, rice, donated, million, 197. Robert LeGrande Bob Rice August 15 1929 August 30 2007 was an American health club pioneer and philanthropist Rice Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah location of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics bears his name Rice donated 1 million in 1972 to renovate the stadium then known as Ute Stadium the Eccles name was added to the stadium in 1998 1 Robert L RiceBorn 1929 08 15 August 15 1929Farmington Utah U S DiedAugust 30 2007 2007 08 30 aged 78 Salt Lake City Utah U S OccupationBusinessmanA former bodybuilder Rice started a gym in Salt Lake City in 1952 eventually growing into Health Industries known as European Health Spas Inc with nearly 200 locations and more than a half million members by the 1970s At the time it was the largest health club chain in the world and the first of its kind in the United States 2 He sold the company in 1974 but later became chairman president and chief executive officer of Spa Fitness Centers Inc Rice played a key role in lobbying for legislation in 1981 to prevent deceitful practices by gyms Rice was appointed to President Richard Nixon s Council of Physical Fitness in 1972 and served for four years Rice chairman of the board along with Howard Newson president and George Stevens vice president of finance in the mid 1980s took Spa Lady USA and Spa Lady Corporation public Both corporations owned and operated health facilities on the East Coast David Gladstone of Allied Capital Corporation was instrumental in providing the venture capital funds needed for the joint company s planned expansion In November 2006 Rice was inducted into the David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame at the University of Utah 3 References Edit Cortez Marjorie July 29 1998 U football stadium renamed Rice Eccles to honor donors Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah p A10 Laureates Biographies Robert L Rice Junior Achievement of Utah 2008 Archived from the original on July 26 2011 Retrieved March 25 2009 Hall of Fame External Relations University of Utah Archived from the original on August 11 2007 Retrieved December 1 2013 External links EditRobert L Rice at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert L Rice amp oldid 1115819797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
