Richard Neil "Dick" Cabela (October 8, 1936 – February 17, 2014) was an American entrepreneur, best known as a co-founder of Cabela's, a leading outfitter of outdoor sporting and recreational goods.[1][2] He stated that his business was inspired by his bout with polio and a deep love of hunting and fishing.[3] He was also described as "a vocal supporter of the National Rifle Association of America" and a hunter who decorated his home with taxidermic wildlife.[4]
Richard N. Cabela | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Richard Neil Cabela October 8, 1936 Chappell, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 2014 (aged 77) Sidney, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Other names | Dick Cabela |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Cabela's co-founder |
Biography
editBorn in Chappell, Nebraska, Cabela and his father, who were both of Italian heritage, went to Chicago to purchase items for the family furniture store back home.[5] Initially he placed ads in a local newspaper for "12 hand tied flies for $1".[6] When the items did not sell locally, he advertised them in national newspapers and magazines such as Sports Afield. He and wife, Mary, built a customer base and created a small mimeographed catalog to offer more fishing gear.[7]
From 1961, the Cabelas, Dick, his wife Mary, and his brother James, created a catalog business with annual revenues of over US$3 billion, featuring stores in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and shipping goods and 120 million catalogs each year to all 50 states and many foreign nations.[8] Additionally, the business inspired the creation of a financial institution and credit card issuer called the Worlds Foremost Bank.[9]
He died on February 17, 2014, at his home in Sidney, Nebraska, at age 77.[1][10]
Honors
editCabela was the recipient of several awards over the course of his career. Among the awards Cabela received were the C.J. McElroy award in 2001 from the Safari Club International and the Golden Bullseye Pioneer award from NRA Publications in 2008.[11][6]
References
edit- ^ a b Elizabeth A. Harris (February 21, 2014). "Richard Cabela, Who Sold the Great Outdoors, Is Dead at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
Richard N. Cabela, founder of the hunting and outdoors retail chain Cabela's, one of the largest sellers of guns and ammunition in the country, died on Monday at his home in Sidney, Neb., where the company is based. He was 77. ...
- ^ "Richard N. Cabela profile". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ Cabela, David (2001). Cabela's: World's Foremost Outfitter. P.S. Eriksson. ISBN 0-8397-1280-4
- ^ Elizabeth A. Harris (February 21, 2014). "Richard Cabela, Who Sold the Great Outdoors, Is Dead at 77". The New York Times. p. B10. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
- ^ "History of Cabela's Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com.
- ^ a b Staff (May 2014). "Random Shots: In Memory: Richard "Dick" Cabela". American Rifleman. Vol. 162, no. 5. p. 28.
- ^ "Richard Cabela, who co-founded outdoor gear retailer, dies at 77". Chicago Tribune. Bloomberg News. February 17, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-02-18.
- ^ Santoli, Michael. "Outdoor Enthusiasts Flock to Cabela's, Investors Follow". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ Staff. "Commercial Banks; Company Overview of World's Foremost Bank". Bloomberg Business. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
- ^ "Richard Cabela, Co-Founder Of Cabela's And Prominent NRA Supporter, Dies At 77". Forbes. February 18, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
Richard Cabela, co-founder of the Cabela's retail chain that caters to outdoor enthusiasts and a prominent supporter of the National Rifle Association, has died. He was 77.
- ^ "Cabela's Inc. Announces Passing of Richard N. Cabela". American Rifleman. National Rifle Association of America. February 18, 2014. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021.