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==Early life==
==Early life==
Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20120509-344714.html |title=TV's hidden treasures |author=Barker, Victoria |publisher=AsiaOne Showbiz |date=May 9, 2012 |accessdate=June 6, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=NewYorkPost>{{cite news|title=Road to 'Pawn' – Before 'Stars,' Rick made sandwiches |author=Bob Shemeligian |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/road_to_pawn_vtN2GZyL7mIGmNEFsyC6JN |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |date=July 13, 2010 |accessdate=August 18, 2011}}</ref> was born March 4, 1941 in [[Danville, Virginia]]as the younger child of Richard Benjamin Harrison (born July 20, 1909 in [[Rutherford County, North Carolina]]); died December 14, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada), a handyman, and his wife, Ruth Davis Harrison (born June 2, 1910 in [[Gaffney, South Carolina]]; died May 18, 1993),<ref>''The Dispatch'' (Lexington, North Carolina). May 18, 1993.</ref> and younger brother of Dorothy Leona Pearson (born July 31, 1929 in [[Gastonia, North Carolina]]; died August 18, 1989).<ref>''The Dispatch'' (Lexington, North Carolina). August 19, 1989. p. 5.</ref> Harrison's son, Rick, has mentioned that his grandmother stated that they are descendants of Presidents [[William Henry Harrison]], but Rick has indicated that he does not give much credence to this idea.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Harrison for President|series=[[Pawn Stars]]|season=4|number=11|airdate=February 11, 2011|network=History}}</ref>
Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20120509-344714.html |title=TV's hidden treasures |author=Barker, Victoria |publisher=AsiaOne Showbiz |date=May 9, 2012 |accessdate=June 6, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=NewYorkPost>{{cite news|title=Road to 'Pawn' – Before 'Stars,' Rick made sandwiches |author=Bob Shemeligian |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/road_to_pawn_vtN2GZyL7mIGmNEFsyC6JN |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |date=July 13, 2010 |accessdate=August 18, 2011}}</ref> was born March 4, 1941 in [[Danville, Virginia]] as the younger child of Richard Benjamin Harrison (born July 20, 1909 in [[Rutherford County, North Carolina]]); died December 14, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada), a handyman, and his wife, Ruth Davis Harrison (born June 2, 1910 in [[Gaffney, South Carolina]]; died May 18, 1993 in Lexington, North Carolina),<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19930518&id=L4AcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=01IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5915,1898204 "Ruth Harrison"], ''The Dispatch'' (Lexington, North Carolina). May 18, 1993. Page 6A.</ref> and younger brother of Dorothy Leona Pearson (born July 31, 1929 in [[Gastonia, North Carolina]]; died August 18, 1989 in Lexington, North Carolina).<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19930518&id=L4AcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=01IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5915,1898204 "Dorothea Pearson"], ''The Dispatch'' (Lexington, North Carolina). August 19, 1989. p. 8.</ref> Harrison's son, Rick, has mentioned that his grandmother stated that they are descendants of Presidents [[William Henry Harrison]], but Rick has indicated that he does not give much credence to this idea.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Harrison for President|series=[[Pawn Stars]]|season=4|number=11|airdate=February 11, 2011|network=History}}</ref>


When Harrison was one year old, his family moved to [[Lexington, North Carolina]], where they lived at 115 Peacock Avenue, just off South Main Street.<ref name=TheDispatch/><ref name=VegasNews030411/>
When Harrison was one year old, his family moved to [[Lexington, North Carolina]], where they lived at 115 Peacock Avenue, just off South Main Street.<ref name=TheDispatch/><ref name=VegasNews030411/>


==Career==
==Career==
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===Business and reality television===
===Business and reality television===
With only $5,000, in April 1981 Harrison and his wife and three sons moved to [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], where he opened Gold & Silver Coin Shop in a 300 square foot shop at 1501 Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1986 he relocated the business to a larger building at 413 Fremont Street. In 1987 he obtained a license to buy and sell [[second-hand]] goods.{{fact|date=August 2012}}
With only $5,000, in April 1981 Harrison and his wife and three sons moved to [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], where he opened Gold & Silver Coin Shop in a 300 square foot shop at 1501 Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1986 he relocated the business to a larger building at 413 Fremont Street. In 1987 he obtained a license to buy and sell [[second-hand]] goods.<ref>Harrison, Rick (2011). ''License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver''. Hyperion. 2011. New York. ISBN 978-1-4013-2430-8</ref>


When the lease expired in 1988, Harrison and his son Rick founded the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South, less than two miles from the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. The business was founded to mainly pawn items, but also accepts items to buy and sell. The most common item brought into the store is [[jewelry]].<ref>"Pezzed Off". ''Pawn Stars''. Episode 2.15. History. January 25, 2010</ref> As of July 2011, the store has 12,000 items in its inventory,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Face the Music|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=July 25, 2011|season=4|number=39}}</ref> 5,000 of which are typically held on pawn.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Wright Stuff|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=August 15, 2011|season=4|number=44}}</ref> According to episodes of ''Pawn Stars'', Harrison is the first to arrive at the shop in the morning,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Phoning it In|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=July 12, 2010|season=3|number=11}}</ref> and has not had a sick day since 1994.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Big Guns|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=March 8, 2010|season=2|number=24}}</ref>
When the lease expired in 1988, Harrison and his son Rick founded the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South, less than two miles from the [[Las Vegas Strip]].<ref>Harrison, Rick (2011). ''License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver''. Hyperion. 2011. New York. ISBN 978-1-4013-2430-8</ref> The business was founded to mainly pawn items, but also accepts items to buy and sell. The most common item brought into the store is [[jewelry]].<ref>"Pezzed Off". ''Pawn Stars''. Episode 2.15. History. January 25, 2010</ref> As of July 2011, the store has 12,000 items in its inventory,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Face the Music|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=July 25, 2011|season=4|number=39}}</ref> 5,000 of which are typically held on pawn.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Wright Stuff|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=August 15, 2011|season=4|number=44}}</ref> According to episodes of ''Pawn Stars'', Harrison is the first to arrive at the shop in the morning,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Phoning it In|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=July 12, 2010|season=3|number=11}}</ref> and has not had a sick day since 1994.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Big Guns|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=March 8, 2010|season=2|number=24}}</ref>


Since 2009 Harrison and his son, Rick, along with his grandson Richard Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison<ref>Powers, Ashley (July 14, 2008). [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/14/nation/na-pawnbroker14 "Hard times are their stock in trade"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref> and Corey's childhood friend and employee Austin "Chumlee" Russell, have featured in the [[reality television]] program ''[[Pawn Stars]]'' on the History Channel. Harrison is depicted as irascible and tactiturn, or as Harrison himself indicates: "My role on the show is to be an old grump."<ref>Harrison. 2011. p. 97.</ref> Within ten weeks of its debut, ''Pawn Stars'' was the highest rated program on the History channel,<ref name=ElfmanLAT>Elfman, Doug (December 23, 2009). [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/23/entertainment/la-et-pawn-stars23-2009dec23 "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit"]. ''Los Angeles Times''.</ref> and second highest rated reality show program behind ''[[Jersey Shore]]''.<ref name=Nielsen>Seidman, Robert (January 25, 2011). [http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/25/pawn-stars-delivers-7-million-viewers-an-all-time-high-for-history/80200 "'Pawn Stars' Delivers 7 Million Viewers, An All-Time High for History"]. TV by the Numbers.</ref> In that same period the average number of customers per day increased from 70 to 700.<ref name=ElfmanLAT/>
Since 2009 Harrison and his son, Rick, along with his grandson Richard Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison<ref>Powers, Ashley (July 14, 2008). [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/14/nation/na-pawnbroker14 "Hard times are their stock in trade"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref> and Corey's childhood friend and employee Austin "Chumlee" Russell, have featured in the [[reality television]] program ''[[Pawn Stars]]'' on the History Channel. Harrison is depicted as irascible and tactiturn, or as Harrison himself indicates: "My role on the show is to be an old grump."<ref>Harrison. 2011. p. 97.</ref> Within ten weeks of its debut, ''Pawn Stars'' was the highest rated program on the History channel,<ref name=ElfmanLAT>Elfman, Doug (December 23, 2009). [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/23/entertainment/la-et-pawn-stars23-2009dec23 "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit"]. ''Los Angeles Times''.</ref> and second highest rated reality show program behind ''[[Jersey Shore]]''.<ref name=Nielsen>Seidman, Robert (January 25, 2011). [http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/25/pawn-stars-delivers-7-million-viewers-an-all-time-high-for-history/80200 "'Pawn Stars' Delivers 7 Million Viewers, An All-Time High for History"]. TV by the Numbers.</ref> In that same period the average number of customers per day increased from 70 to 700.<ref name=ElfmanLAT/>

Revision as of 03:07, 6 August 2012

Richard Benjamin "The Old Man" Harrison, Jr.
Born
Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr.

(1941-03-04) March 4, 1941 (age 83)
Danville, Virginia
Other namesThe Old Man (nickname)
Benny[1]
Alma materLexington High School,
North Carolina
Occupation(s)Businessman
Reality television personality
Years active1988–present
SpouseJoAnne Harrison (1959-present)
ChildrenSherry Harrison (1961-1967)
Joe Harrison
Richard Kevin Harrison[2]
Chris Harrison

Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr. (known by the nickname The Old Man) (born March 4, 1941),[3] is a Las Vegas businessman and reality television personality, best known as the co-owner of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, as featured on the History channel series Pawn Stars. Harrison is co-owner of the pawn shop with his son Richard Kevin Harrison, which they founded together in 1988, when the elder Harrison was 47.[4]

Harrison is usually referred to by his nickname, "The Old Man",[5] which he earned at age 38, according to the episode "Fired Up".[6]

Early life

Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr.[7][8] was born March 4, 1941 in Danville, Virginia as the younger child of Richard Benjamin Harrison (born July 20, 1909 in Rutherford County, North Carolina); died December 14, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada), a handyman, and his wife, Ruth Davis Harrison (born June 2, 1910 in Gaffney, South Carolina; died May 18, 1993 in Lexington, North Carolina),[9] and younger brother of Dorothy Leona Pearson (born July 31, 1929 in Gastonia, North Carolina; died August 18, 1989 in Lexington, North Carolina).[10] Harrison's son, Rick, has mentioned that his grandmother stated that they are descendants of Presidents William Henry Harrison, but Rick has indicated that he does not give much credence to this idea.[11]

When Harrison was one year old, his family moved to Lexington, North Carolina, where they lived at 115 Peacock Avenue, just off South Main Street.[1][3]

Career

Military

Harrison attended Lexington High School, but left during his junior year to enlist in the United States Navy in October 1958[12][13] to avoid imprisonment for auto theft. In 1959 Harrison married JoAnne, the daughter of a county judge, who later became one of the lead attorneys for Philip Morris in North Carolina. In 1961 they had their first child, Sherry, who was born with Down Syndrome. Harrison left the Navy in February 1962, but re-enlisted fourteen months later in order to obtain the health care benefits necessary to meet his daughter's medical expenses.[13] Eventually Harrison served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years,[1] including stints as a paymaster, and attaining the rate of Petty officer, first class. Harrison served on four ships, including his final five years on fleet tug ATF 100 USS Chowanoc.[14][15]

In 1967 Harrison was transferred by the Navy to San Diego, California, and his daughter died at the age of 6. Harrison continued to serve in the Navy, while JoAnne obtained her real estate licence in 1970 and opened her own office in 1973. After Harrison was discharged from the Navy, he worked part-time in his wife's office. Declining real estate sales caused by interest rates as high as 18 percent caused the loss of $1,000,000 and the demise of this business in 1981.[16]

Business and reality television

With only $5,000, in April 1981 Harrison and his wife and three sons moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he opened Gold & Silver Coin Shop in a 300 square foot shop at 1501 Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1986 he relocated the business to a larger building at 413 Fremont Street. In 1987 he obtained a license to buy and sell second-hand goods.[17]

When the lease expired in 1988, Harrison and his son Rick founded the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South, less than two miles from the Las Vegas Strip.[18] The business was founded to mainly pawn items, but also accepts items to buy and sell. The most common item brought into the store is jewelry.[19] As of July 2011, the store has 12,000 items in its inventory,[20] 5,000 of which are typically held on pawn.[21] According to episodes of Pawn Stars, Harrison is the first to arrive at the shop in the morning,[22] and has not had a sick day since 1994.[23]

Since 2009 Harrison and his son, Rick, along with his grandson Richard Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison[24] and Corey's childhood friend and employee Austin "Chumlee" Russell, have featured in the reality television program Pawn Stars on the History Channel. Harrison is depicted as irascible and tactiturn, or as Harrison himself indicates: "My role on the show is to be an old grump."[25] Within ten weeks of its debut, Pawn Stars was the highest rated program on the History channel,[26] and second highest rated reality show program behind Jersey Shore.[27] In that same period the average number of customers per day increased from 70 to 700.[26]

Awards and recognition

Harrison and the other stars of Pawn Stars served as grand marshals for the History 300 NASCAR race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2012.[28]

On May 29, 2012, Harrison was awarded a key to the city of Lexington, his hometown, by Lexington Mayor Clark Newell, in the Lexington City Council Chamber, and the day was also officially "Richard Harrison's Day".[29][30][31]

On July 17, 2012, the Clark County Commission declared that day to be "Pawn Stars/Gold & Silver Pawn Day". At the Commission meeting, Harrison donated $1,000 to the Clark County Museum, and lent the U.S. Senate floor chair used by Senator Patrick McCarran (sold to the Gold and Silver in the Pawn Stars episode "Take a Seat") to the museum as part of a display on Senator McCarran.[32]

Personal life

Harrison is particularly passionate about automobiles, showing an interest in all types of cars,[33] from the 1966 Chrysler Imperial his son and grandson had restored for his 50th wedding anniversary[34] to the mid-1960s B&Z Electra-King electric car shown to them in "Honest Abe", which he suggested could be converted into a golf cart.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b c Steve Huffman (February 18, 2011). "'The Old Man' from 'Pawn Stars' recalls growing up in Lexington". The Dispatch. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  2. ^ Harrison, Rick (2011). License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver. Hyperion. 2011. New York. ISBN 978-1-4013-2430-8
  3. ^ a b "Pawn Stars’ Richard "Old Man" Harrison Celebrates 70th Birthday". Vegas News. March 4, 2011
  4. ^ Gary Strauss (February 18, 2010). "From 'Pawn Stars' to 'Pickers,' America's trash is TV's treasure". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  5. ^ Meet the Pawn Stars: The Old Man "The Appraiser". History. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  6. ^ "Fired Up". Pawn Stars. Season 2. Episode 1. November 30, 2009. History.
  7. ^ Barker, Victoria (May 9, 2012). "TV's hidden treasures". AsiaOne Showbiz. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Bob Shemeligian (July 13, 2010). "Road to 'Pawn' – Before 'Stars,' Rick made sandwiches". New York Post. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "Ruth Harrison", The Dispatch (Lexington, North Carolina). May 18, 1993. Page 6A.
  10. ^ "Dorothea Pearson", The Dispatch (Lexington, North Carolina). August 19, 1989. p. 8.
  11. ^ "Harrison for President". Pawn Stars. Season 4. Episode 11. February 11, 2011. History.
  12. ^ Huffman, Steve (February 18, 2011). "Locals remember ‘Pawn Stars' character as nice guy". The Dispatch.
  13. ^ a b Harrison. 2011. p. 9-11.
  14. ^ Tetrault, Rich. "Vegas: Oh What a Time We Had!". Towlines (Winter 2010). p. 11.
  15. ^ Waugh, Scott (October 19, 2010). "Interview with Richard Harrison from Pawn Stars". You Served.
  16. ^ Elder, Laura (December 27, 2009). "Locals learn hard reality of 'Pawn Stars'". The Daily News. (Galveston, Texas)
  17. ^ Harrison, Rick (2011). License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver. Hyperion. 2011. New York. ISBN 978-1-4013-2430-8
  18. ^ Harrison, Rick (2011). License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver. Hyperion. 2011. New York. ISBN 978-1-4013-2430-8
  19. ^ "Pezzed Off". Pawn Stars. Episode 2.15. History. January 25, 2010
  20. ^ "Face the Music". Pawn Stars. Season 4. Episode 39. July 25, 2011. History.
  21. ^ "The Wright Stuff". Pawn Stars. Season 4. Episode 44. August 15, 2011. History.
  22. ^ "Phoning it In". Pawn Stars. Season 3. Episode 11. July 12, 2010. History.
  23. ^ "Big Guns". Pawn Stars. Season 2. Episode 24. March 8, 2010. History.
  24. ^ Powers, Ashley (July 14, 2008). "Hard times are their stock in trade". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ Harrison. 2011. p. 97.
  26. ^ a b Elfman, Doug (December 23, 2009). "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit". Los Angeles Times.
  27. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 25, 2011). "'Pawn Stars' Delivers 7 Million Viewers, An All-Time High for History". TV by the Numbers.
  28. ^ "'Pawn Stars' to Serve as Grand Marshals for HISTORY 300; Two Lucky Fans to Watch the Race with the TV Celebrities". Speedway Media. March 10, 2012.
  29. ^ Deenisha Edwards (May 29, 2012). "'Old Man' Harrison honored by city for 'Pawn Stars' success". The Dispatch. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  30. ^ Scott Gustin (May 29, 2012). "Lexington's 'Pawn Star' to be given key to city". WGHP. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  31. ^ Leach, Robin (May 22, 2012). "Strip Scribbles: Steve Wynn’s L.V. neighbors — in N.Y.; Ray J hospitalized". Las Vegas Sun.
  32. ^ Toplikar, Dave (July 17, 2012). "Richard Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ lends McCarran chair to museum". Vegas Deluxe.
  33. ^ His passion for cars is mentioned in the first season episode "Rope a Dope" and the third season episode "Honest Abe". He mentions in the second season episode "Sharks and Cobras" that he has owned 40 cars in his life.
  34. ^ "Old Man's Booty", Pawn Stars. Season 2, Episode 3. History. December 7, 2009
  35. ^ "Honest Abe" Pawn Stars. Season 3, Episode 26. History, November 1, 2010

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