1. Rick Welts was born on January 21,1953 and is an American sports executive who is the chief executive officer for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association.
12 Facts About Rick Welts
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Rick Welts was the president of the Golden State Warriors from 2011 until 2021 and stayed with the team as an advisor until 2024.
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Rick Welts worked for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1969 to 1979 in various capacities, from an initial stint as a ballboy to director of public relations when the SuperSonics won their only NBA Championship in 1979.
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Rick Welts later worked at the NBA's league offices from 1982 to 1999, eventually rising to the positions of executive vice president, chief marketing officer and president of NBA Properties.
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On May 15,2011, Rick Welts publicly came out as gay in an interview with The New York Times.
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Rick Welts is the first prominent American sports executive to come out and be openly gay.
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Rick Welts is a member of the advisory board for You Can Play, a campaign dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports.
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Rick Welts ran one obituary in Seattle that suggested anyone who wanted to make a remembrance could write a check to the University of Washington architectural school, his partner's major.
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Rick Welts was in another relationship from 1995 to 2009, which ended in part because of Rick Welts' requirement that their relationship be hidden from public view.
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On September 9,2011, Rick Welts announced he was resigning his position with the Suns in order to relocate to northern California and live with his new partner there.
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On March 31,2018, it was announced Rick Welts would be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
12.
On January 10,2020, Rick Welts married Todd Gage, his partner of nine years, at San Francisco City Hall.