Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr.

Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr. (also known as the Old Man on History’s “Pawn Stars”), co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, passed away Monday, June 25. He was born March 4, 1941 in Danville, Va. He spent most of his the early part of his life in Lexington, North Carolina where the family moved when Harrison was just one-year old. At 17 years old he married his wife, JoAnne Rhue, in 1959. Their first child Sherry passed away at the age of six. Three sons, Joseph, Rick and Chris followed.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1958 for two years and again in 1962. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years reaching the rank of Petty officer first class. He served on four ships including his final five years on the USS Chowanoc between 1972-1976. In 1967 he was transferred by the Navy to San Diego, CA where he joined his wife JoAnne in her real estate business after his discharge from the Navy.

In 1981 with the real estate market down he and his wife and their family moved to Las Vegas where he opened a Gold & Silver Coin Shop. In 1981 the Gold & Silver Coin Buy & Sell Store became the first of its kind on the Las Vegas Strip to be open 24 hours. In 1988 that business was in a new building and the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop opened at its current location 713 Las Vegas Blvd. So.

In July of 2009 Harrison, his son Rick and grandson Corey along with family friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell became the stars of History’s “Pawn Stars”. Within 10 weeks of its debut, the show was the highest-rated show on History and the second highest-rated reality show on television. That show continues today (10 years later) and is entering the 16th season.

On May 29, 2012 Harrison was awarded a key to the City of Lexington and it was made “Richard Harrison’s Day”. In March of 2010 he was given a key to the City of Las Vegas and in 2012 it was declared “Pawn Stars/Gold & Silver Pawn Day” on July 17.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, JoAnne; three sons; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.