The Story of Dick Sonne
Dick was born at St. Luke's Hospital on January 21, 1925. He graduated from U.F.A. in 1943 and then enlisted in the Army that same year. His tenure in the Army placed him with the 10th Mountain Division, where he spent most of the time in the Italian Alps. His actions in combat awarded him both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Metal. In 1946 he was honorably discharged. Shortly thereafter he met his wife-to-be, Ruth Krohn, with whom he had four children and four grandchildren. He currently resides in Highland Beach, Florida, where, if you are up early enough, you just might catch sight of him riding his bike along the winding roads that hug the seashore.
Cycling Contributions:
Dick rode his bicycle everywhere as a kid, because he loved the sense of freedom his bicycle gave him. After returning home from WW II, he went to work at his father's business, Sonne Brothers Jewelers. Each day he would walk to work because he enjoyed the exercise. One day, he noticed that Playworld had a coaster bicycle in its storefront window for only $29.95, and with that single purchase he swapped out walking for biking. He liked the way cycling made him feel. It changed his life and made him feel better about himself - and healthier! Over the next decade he traded his coaster bike in for a 3-speed and then a 10-speed (purchased from Andre's, the first one in the city).
It was at that point in his life he decided to go into business selling bicycles. He wanted to get the word out that bicycles are for everyone, every age, male and female. He wanted everyone to know that regular exercise is the key to feeling good. He started Dick Sonne's Bike & Hike in 1962 on Burrstone Road in Utica, NY. In 1968, he moved the store to Commercial Drive in New Hartford, NY at the site of a former Saab dealership. The store gave him the platform and opportunity to tell other adults as they purchased a bike for their child the positive effect cycling would have on them if they gave it a try. Dick was way ahead of his time- and anyone who has been around Dick will tell you that every conversation includes the question, "What are you doing for exercise?"
Today, he still is riding strong at 87. Although he was never much involved with racing himself (he preferred to compete against himself), he encouraged his son Steve to race and to become involved with cycling events in the community. Dick inspired his son to further invest in the Sonne family commitment to cycling in New York State. In the seventies, Steve was involved with the planning of bicycle paths throughout Oneida County. Steve also organized many road and mountain races in the early eighties. In the early nineties Steve helped start the first police bicycle patrol by donating bikes and equipment to the New Hartford, Kirkland, Whitesboro, Yorkville, Town of Webb, Oriskany, and Utica Police Departments.
Today Steve is highly involved with the Ride for Missing Children, donating bikes and his time. Dick's grandson, Richard, in association with the Oneida County Youth Bureau, visited the Utica area's summer youth recreational centers for two years promoting Bicycle Moto-Cross (BMX) racing as a drug free, safe sport. Richard also raced BMX. Many Central New Yorkers now benefit from the possibilities and opportunities of cycling because of Dick Sonne's vision. To this day, not one, but many people over the years have made the comment that "Dick Sonne is bicycles." Dick Sonne saw early on that exercise and good health go hand-in-hand. It was his mission to let everyone know, and this mission continues via his son and grandson.