Robert L. Rice
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Rice was a health club
pioneer and a 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 dollars in 1972 to renovate the stadium, then known as Ute Stadium. The Eccles name was added to the stadium in 1997.
Rice, a former body builder, 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
. 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 Nixon's Council of Physical Fitness in 1972, where he 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.
Health club
A health club is a place which houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise.-Main workout area:...
pioneer and a philanthropist. Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the campus of the University of Utah. It is the home field of the Utah Utes of the Pacific-12 Conference...
at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, location of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, bears his name. Rice donated $1 million dollars in 1972 to renovate the stadium, then known as Ute Stadium. The Eccles name was added to the stadium in 1997.
Rice, a former body builder, 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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 Nixon's Council of Physical Fitness in 1972, where he 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
David Eccles School of Business
The David Eccles School of Business is located on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school was first established in 1896.- History :...
Hall of Fame at the University of Utah.