Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE: DKS) is an authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel, and footwear in a specialty store environment. Headquartered in Findlay Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dick's has 409 stores in 40 states as of August 1 2009, primarily in the eastern half of the United States. The Company also owns Golf Galaxy, Inc., a multi-channel golf specialty retailer, with 91 stores in 31 states.


At the age of 18, Richard Stack had worked at an Army/Navy store in his hometown of Binghamton, New York, after World War II. Military surplus stores were common start-ups in those days. "Dick" had the idea of expanding the product line to include more than just military surplus, but to also sell fishing and camping supplies- for which there was also developing a big demand. He presented his idea to his boss, the owner, but the idea was denigrated by him. He related his disappointment to his family later that night. After hearing his story, his grandmother decided to give him her savings of $300 and instructed him to "follow his dreams" with it. He rented a store-front and opened up the first Dick's as a small "bait & tackle" fishing supply store, on Court Street near Howard Avenue. His store was also called by the then-popular "Army/Navy".

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