The history of the Riekes Center begins with its founder and chief executive officer, Gary Riekes, who moved to the Bay Area in 1970 from Nebraska (where he was born) to become a "rock star and football player" by studying music and playing receiver at Stanford University. Gary named the Center after his parents, Max and Dorothy Riekes, in honor of all parents who support their children's interests irrespective of the outcome.
His athletic career was cut short by a freshman-year back injury (but not before his scout team efforts earned him a Rose Bowl Ring for the Stanford Cardinal in 1971). The serious injury was worsened by the lack of proper sports medicine at the time and his own unwillingness to communicate. His back continued to get worse, and after multiple surgeries, Gary was barely able to walk for the better part of two decades.
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