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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Richard Benjamin "The Old Man" Harrison
|name = Richard Benjamin "The Old Man" Harrison, Jr.
|image =
|image =
|caption =
|caption =
|birth_name = Richard Benjamin Harrison
|birth_name = Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr.
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|03|04}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|03|04}}
|birth_place = [[Danville, Virginia]]
|birth_place = [[Danville, Virginia]]
|alma_mater = [[Lexington Senior High School (North Carolina)|Lexington High School]],<br> [[North Carolina]]
|alma_mater =
|other_names = The Old Man (nickname)<br>Benny<ref name=TheDispatch>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20110218/NEWS/302189971 |title='The Old Man' from ‘Pawn Stars' recalls growing up in Lexington |author=Steve Huffman |publisher=The-Dispatch.com |date=February 18, 2011 |accessdate=June 2, 2012 }}</ref>
|other_names = The Old Man (nickname)<br>Benny<ref name=TheDispatch>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20110218/NEWS/302189971 |title='The Old Man' from ‘Pawn Stars' recalls growing up in Lexington |author=Steve Huffman |publisher=The-Dispatch.com |date=February 18, 2011 |accessdate=June 2, 2012 }}</ref>
|spouse =
|spouse = JoAnne Harrison (1959-present)
|children = Richard Kevin "Rick" Harrison<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>
|children = Sherry Harrison (1961-1967)<br>Joe Harrison<br>[[Rick Harrison|Richard Kevin Harrison]]<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><br>Chris Harrison
|occupation = Businessman<br />Reality television personality
|occupation = Businessman<br />Reality television personality
|years_active = 1988–present
|years_active = 1988–present
|website =
|website =
}}
}}
'''Richard Benjamin Harrison''' (known by the nickname '''The Old Man''') (born March 4, 1941),<ref name=VegasNews030411>[http://www.vegasnews.com/41913/pawn-stars-richard-old-man-harrison-celebrates-70th-birthday.html "Pawn Stars’ Richard "Old Man" Harrison Celebrates 70th Birthday"]. Vegas News. March 4, 2011</ref> is a [[Las Vegas]] businessman and [[reality television]] personality, best known as the co-owner of the Gold & Silver [[Pawn Shop]], as featured on the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History]] channel series ''[[Pawn Stars]]''. Harrison is co-owner of the pawn shop with his son [[Rick Harrison|Richard Kevin Harrison]], which they founded together in 1988, when the elder Harrison was 47.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-02-19-trashtv19_CV_N.htm |title=From 'Pawn Stars' to 'Pickers,' America's trash is TV's treasure |author=Gary Strauss |publisher=USA Today|date=February 18, 2010|accessdate=June 2, 2012}}</ref>
'''Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr.''' (known by the nickname '''The Old Man''') (born March 4, 1941),<ref name=VegasNews030411>[http://www.vegasnews.com/41913/pawn-stars-richard-old-man-harrison-celebrates-70th-birthday.html "Pawn Stars’ Richard "Old Man" Harrison Celebrates 70th Birthday"]. Vegas News. March 4, 2011</ref> 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 (U.S. TV channel)|History]] channel series ''[[Pawn Stars]]''. Harrison is co-owner of the pawn shop with his son [[Rick Harrison|Richard Kevin Harrison]], which they founded together in 1988, when the elder Harrison was 47.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-02-19-trashtv19_CV_N.htm |title=From 'Pawn Stars' to 'Pickers,' America's trash is TV's treasure |author=Gary Strauss |publisher=USA Today|date=February 18, 2010|accessdate=June 2, 2012}}</ref>


Harrison is usually referred to by his [[nickname]], "The Old Man",<ref name=MeetOldMan>[http://www.history.com/shows/pawn-stars/bios/the-old-man-the-appraiser Meet the Pawn Stars: The Old Man "The Appraiser"]. History.com. Retrieved February 10, 2011.</ref> which he earned at age 38, according to the episode "Fired Up".<ref>{{cite episode|title=Fired Up|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=November 30, 2009|season=2|number=1}}</ref>
Harrison is usually referred to by his [[nickname]], "The Old Man",<ref name=MeetOldMan>[http://www.history.com/shows/pawn-stars/bios/the-old-man-the-appraiser Meet the Pawn Stars: The Old Man "The Appraiser"]. History.com. Retrieved February 10, 2011.</ref> which he earned at age 38, according to the episode "Fired Up".<ref>{{cite episode|title=Fired Up|series=Pawn Stars|network=History|airdate=November 30, 2009|season=2|number=1}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Richard Benjamin Harrison<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]] to Richard Harrison, a handyman, and his wife, Ruth. When Harrison was one year old, his family moved to [[Lexington, North Carolina]], where they lived on Peacock Avenue, just off South Main Street.<ref name=TheDispatch/><ref name=VegasNews030411/> Harrison's son, Rick, has mentioned that they are descendants of Presidents [[William Henry Harrison]] and [[Benjamin Harrison]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=Harrison for President|series=[[Pawn Stars]]|season=4|number=11|airdate=February 11, 2011|network=[[History (U.S. TV channel)|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),<ref>''Dispatch'' (Lexington, NC: May 18, 1993).</ref> and younger brother of Dorothy Leona Pearson (born July 31, 1929 in [[Gastonia, North Carolina]]; died August 18, 1989).<ref>''Dispatch'' (Lexington, NC: August 19, 1989):5.</ref> Harrison's son, Rick, has mentioned that they are descendants of Presidents [[William Henry Harrison]] and [[Benjamin Harrison]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=Harrison for President|series=[[Pawn Stars]]|season=4|number=11|airdate=February 11, 2011|network=[[History (U.S. TV channel)|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/> Harrison attended [[Lexington Senior High School (North Carolina)|Lexington High School]], but left during his junior year to enlist in the [[United States Navy]] in October 1958 to avoid imprisonment for [[motor vehicle theft|auto theft]]. In 1959 Harrison married JoAnne, the daughter of a county judge who later became one of the lead attorneys for [[Philip Morris USA|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.<ref>Rick Harrison, ''Licence to Pawn'', 9-11.</ref> Eventually Harrison served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years,<ref name=TheDispatch/> 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 [[tugboat|fleet tug]] ATF 100 ''USS Chowanoc''.<ref>Rich Tetrault, [http://nafts.com/Towlines/year2010/WinterTowline2010.pdf "Vegas: Oh What a Time We Had!"], ''Towlines'' (Winter 2010):11.</ref><ref>[http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2010/10/19/interview-with-richard-harrison-from-pawn-stars/ "Interview with Richard Harrison from Pawn Stars], "You Served".</ref>

In 1967 Harrison was transferred by the Navy to [[San Diego, California]], and his daughter died aged 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.<ref>Laura Elder, [http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=10e9336f149c1b58 "Locals learn hard reality of ‘Pawn Stars’"], ''The Daily News''(Galveston, TX: December 27, 2009).</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
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.
Harrison was in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.<ref name=TheDispatch/>


Harrison and his son Rick founded the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop less than two miles from the [[Las Vegas Strip]] in 1988. 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, which is 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>


''Pawn Stars'' features Harrison and his son, Rick Harrison, along with his grandson Corey and Corey's childhood friend and employee Austin "Chumlee" Russell. In January 2011, ''Pawn Stars'' was the highest rated program on the History channel, and second highest rated reality show program behind ''[[Jersey Shore]]''.<ref name=Nielsen>Seidman, Robert. [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. January 25, 2011</ref>
Since 2009 Harrison and his son, Rick, along with his grandson Richard Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison<ref>Ashley Powers, [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/14/nation/na-pawnbroker14 "Hard times are their stock in trade"], ''Los Angeles Times'' (July 14, 2008).</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>Rick Harrison, ''License to Pawn'', 97.</ref> Within ten weeks of its debut, ''Pawn Stars'' was the highest rated program on the History channel,<ref>Doug Elfman, [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/23/entertainment/la-et-pawn-stars23-2009dec23 "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit"], ''Los Angeles Times'' (December 23, 2009).</ref> and second highest rated reality show program behind ''[[Jersey Shore]]''.<ref name=Nielsen>Seidman, Robert. [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. January 25, 2011</ref> In that same period the average number of customers per day increased from 70 to 700.<ref>Doug Elfman, [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/23/entertainment/la-et-pawn-stars23-2009dec23 "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit"], ''Los Angeles Times'' (December 23, 2009).</ref>


==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20120529/NEWS/305299977 |title='Old Man' Harrison honored by city for 'Pawn Stars' success |author=Deenisha Edwards |publisher=The-Dispatch.com |date=May 29, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myfox8.com/2012/05/29/lexingtons-pawn-star-to-be-given-key-to-city/ |title=Lexington’s ‘Pawn Star’ to be given key to city |author=Scott Gustin |publisher=My Fox 8.com |date=May 29, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/22/strip-scribbles-steve-wynns-lv-neighbors----ny-ray/?ae Strip Scribbles: Steve Wynn’s L.V. neighbors — in N.Y.; Ray J hospitalized] Las Vegas Sun. May 22, 2012</ref>
Harrison and the other stars of ''Pawn Stars'' served as [[grand marshal]]s for the History 300 [[NASCAR]] race at the [[Charlotte Motor Speedway]] on May 26, 2012.<ref>[http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=22250 "'Pawn Stars' to Serve as Grand Marshals for HISTORY 300; Two Lucky Fans to Watch the Race with the TV Celebrities"], March 10, 2012.</ref> On May 29, 2012, Harrison was awarded a key to his hometown, the city of Lexington, North Carolina, by its mayor Clark Newell, in the Lexington City Council Chamber, and the day was also officially "Richard Harrison's Day".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20120529/NEWS/305299977 |title='Old Man' Harrison honored by city for 'Pawn Stars' success |author=Deenisha Edwards |publisher=The-Dispatch.com |date=May 29, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myfox8.com/2012/05/29/lexingtons-pawn-star-to-be-given-key-to-city/ |title=Lexington’s ‘Pawn Star’ to be given key to city |author=Scott Gustin |publisher=My Fox 8.com |date=May 29, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/22/strip-scribbles-steve-wynns-lv-neighbors----ny-ray/?ae Strip Scribbles: Steve Wynn’s L.V. neighbors — in N.Y.; Ray J hospitalized] Las Vegas Sun. May 22, 2012</ref>


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.<ref>Toplikar, Dave (July 17, 2012). [http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-life/2012/jul/17/richard-harrison-pawn-stars-lends-mccarran-chair-m/ "Richard Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ lends McCarran chair to museum"]. Vegas Deluxe.</ref>
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.<ref>Toplikar, Dave (July 17, 2012). [http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-life/2012/jul/17/richard-harrison-pawn-stars-lends-mccarran-chair-m/ "Richard Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ lends McCarran chair to museum"]. Vegas Deluxe.</ref>
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2010/10/19/interview-with-richard-harrison-from-pawn-stars/ 2010 Interview with Richard "Old Man" Harrison]


{{Persondata
{{Persondata

Revision as of 16:55, 5 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),[9] and younger brother of Dorothy Leona Pearson (born July 31, 1929 in Gastonia, North Carolina; died August 18, 1989).[10] Harrison's son, Rick, has mentioned that they are descendants of Presidents William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.[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] Harrison attended Lexington High School, but left during his junior year to enlist in the United States Navy in October 1958 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.[12] 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.[13][14]

In 1967 Harrison was transferred by the Navy to San Diego, California, and his daughter died aged 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.[15]

Career

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.

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, which is 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.[16] As of July 2011, the store has 12,000 items in its inventory,[17] 5,000 of which are typically held on pawn.[18] According to episodes of Pawn Stars, Harrison is the first to arrive at the shop in the morning,[19] and has not had a sick day since 1994.[20]

Since 2009 Harrison and his son, Rick, along with his grandson Richard Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison[21] 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."[22] Within ten weeks of its debut, Pawn Stars was the highest rated program on the History channel,[23] and second highest rated reality show program behind Jersey Shore.[24] In that same period the average number of customers per day increased from 70 to 700.[25]

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.[26] On May 29, 2012, Harrison was awarded a key to his hometown, the city of Lexington, North Carolina, by its mayor Clark Newell, in the Lexington City Council Chamber, and the day was also officially "Richard Harrison's Day".[27][28][29]

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.[30]

Personal life

Harrison is particularly passionate about automobiles, showing an interest in all types of cars,[31] from the 1966 Chrysler Imperial his son and grandson had restored for his 50th wedding anniversary[32] 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.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b c Steve Huffman (February 18, 2011). "'The Old Man' from 'Pawn Stars' recalls growing up in Lexington". The-Dispatch.com. 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.com. 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. ^ Dispatch (Lexington, NC: May 18, 1993).
  10. ^ Dispatch (Lexington, NC: August 19, 1989):5.
  11. ^ "Harrison for President". Pawn Stars. Season 4. Episode 11. February 11, 2011. History.
  12. ^ Rick Harrison, Licence to Pawn, 9-11.
  13. ^ Rich Tetrault, "Vegas: Oh What a Time We Had!", Towlines (Winter 2010):11.
  14. ^ "Interview with Richard Harrison from Pawn Stars, "You Served".
  15. ^ Laura Elder, "Locals learn hard reality of ‘Pawn Stars’", The Daily News(Galveston, TX: December 27, 2009).
  16. ^ "Pezzed Off". Pawn Stars. Episode 2.15. History. January 25, 2010
  17. ^ "Face the Music". Pawn Stars. Season 4. Episode 39. July 25, 2011. History.
  18. ^ "The Wright Stuff". Pawn Stars. Season 4. Episode 44. August 15, 2011. History.
  19. ^ "Phoning it In". Pawn Stars. Season 3. Episode 11. July 12, 2010. History.
  20. ^ "Big Guns". Pawn Stars. Season 2. Episode 24. March 8, 2010. History.
  21. ^ Ashley Powers, "Hard times are their stock in trade", Los Angeles Times (July 14, 2008).
  22. ^ Rick Harrison, License to Pawn, 97.
  23. ^ Doug Elfman, "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit", Los Angeles Times (December 23, 2009).
  24. ^ Seidman, Robert. "'Pawn Stars' Delivers 7 Million Viewers, An All-Time High for History". TV by the Numbers. January 25, 2011
  25. ^ Doug Elfman, "'Pawn Stars' becomes a History Channel hit", Los Angeles Times (December 23, 2009).
  26. ^ "'Pawn Stars' to Serve as Grand Marshals for HISTORY 300; Two Lucky Fans to Watch the Race with the TV Celebrities", March 10, 2012.
  27. ^ Deenisha Edwards (May 29, 2012). "'Old Man' Harrison honored by city for 'Pawn Stars' success". The-Dispatch.com. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  28. ^ Scott Gustin (May 29, 2012). "Lexington's 'Pawn Star' to be given key to city". My Fox 8.com. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  29. ^ Strip Scribbles: Steve Wynn’s L.V. neighbors — in N.Y.; Ray J hospitalized Las Vegas Sun. May 22, 2012
  30. ^ Toplikar, Dave (July 17, 2012). "Richard Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ lends McCarran chair to museum". Vegas Deluxe.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "Old Man's Booty", Episode 2.3, History, December 7, 2009
  33. ^ "Honest Abe" Pawn Stars, Episode 3.26, History, November 1, 2010

Template:Persondata

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