Richard Benjamin Harrison
| Richard Benjamin Harrison | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
March 4, 1941 Danville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Other names | The Old Man (nickname) The Appraiser Benny |
| Alma mater |
Lexington High School, North Carolina |
| Occupation | Businessman Reality television personality |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse(s) | Joanne Rhue (1960–present) |
| Children | Sherry Harrison (deceased) Joe Harrison Richard Kevin Harrison Chris Harrison |
| Website | www |
Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr., (also known by the nicknames The Old Man and The Appraiser) (born March 4, 1941), 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 the co-owner of a pawn shop with his son Rick Harrison, which they opened together in 1989.
Harrison is usually referred to by his nickname, "The Old Man", which he earned at age 38.
Richard Benjamin Harrison, Jr. was born March 4, 1941. Harrison's grandson, Corey, has mentioned his grandmother said they are related to President William Henry Harrison. Harrison is of Irish Descent. Harrison has indicated that he does not give much credence to this idea, though he has stated that they are distantly related to Benjamin Harrison, the paternal grandson of William Henry.
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. Harrison attended Lexington High School, but left during his junior year. Harrison's family was poor, and to make money, Harrison drove a school bus when he was 14, parking the bus at his house every night, and getting up early in the morning to pick up the schoolchildren, for which he was paid five or six dollars a week.
When he was 17, Harrison attended a barn dance, where he met his future wife, JoAnne Rhue, the daughter of Joseph Rhue, a county judge, who later became one of the lead attorneys for Philip Morris in North Carolina. They married in 1960. Before they married, however, Harrison stole a car, and after he was arrested, was given a choice by the judge to go to prison or the military. Harrison chose the latter. JoAnne became pregnant with their first child immediately after they married, and Sherry, their first child, was born with Down syndrome. They also had three sons, Joseph, Rick, and Chris. Harrison left the Navy in February 1962, but re-enlisted fourteen months later in order to obtain the health care benefits necessary to meet Sherry's medical expenses. She died when she was six years old.
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