Rick Torrey

Rick Torrey, Richard Torrey, is a retired entrepreneur best known for founding and leading Basin Sports, Out Of Bounds Snowboard Shop, and True Wheels Bike Shop. His love for skiing and mountain biking played a significant role in creating these businesses, and they became a vital part of the local outdoor community. Through hard work and dedication, he transformed his passion into successful ventures that are highly regarded in the outdoor sports industry. Before his entrepreneurial career, he worked as a programmer at an insurance company during the mid-1970s. Though his programming skills were noteworthy, he spent much of his career in technical support, where he helped design more efficient methods for accessing computer systems. His work in this field contributed to advancements that significantly improved data handling. Despite his success in technology, he ultimately shifted his focus toward entrepreneurship. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and moved to Ludlow with his family at a young age. From early childhood, he was accustomed to working hard, taking on jobs like mowing lawns, babysitting, painting houses, and delivering newspapers. These experiences helped him develop a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the value of money as he grew up in a family that faced financial struggles. After high school, he continued working at Springfield Tech for computer processing and taking evening classes at local colleges. He also worked at Pratt and Whitney and coached Little League hockey, where he helped lead his team to regional success. Despite his education and job demands, he remained focused on his future and eventually shifted his attention to business.