What official statements did History Channel and Gold & Silver Pawn Shop release after Richard Harrison’s death in 2018?

1. History Channel’s official line — succinct network condolence

History’s public message was concise and centered on sympathy: the network said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Richard ‘The Old Man’ Harrison, a beloved member of the HISTORY and Pawn Stars family,” added that “he will be greatly missed for his wisdom and candor,” and sent “our thoughts … to the Harrison family” — language carried in multiple outlets quoting the network’s statement to the press ^{[1] [2] [6] [7]}. The statement framed Harrison through his on‑screen persona and the network’s relationship to him, emphasizing loss and admiration rather than medical detail or logistics ^{[1] [2]}.

2. Gold & Silver Pawn Shop’s statement — family, circumstances and affectionate eulogy

The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop’s official post (published on its social media and website) gave more intimate detail, stating “It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of Richard Benjamin Harrison (known as ‘The Old Man’ to Pawn Stars fans the world over) this morning,” reporting that “he was surrounded by loving family this past weekend and went peacefully,” and saying “the team at Gold & Silver Pawn and the Pawn Stars family is grieving his loss” while characterizing him as “the sometimes grumpy (always loving, however), often wisecracking, and voice of absolute reason” from the show ^{[3] [4] [5]}. The shop’s messaging served both as an obituary and a public thank‑you to fans, and it was widely shared in the hours after the announcement ^[3].

3. Factual particulars mentioned and omitted in the official statements

The store’s statement (and subsequent reporting citing it) identified the cause of death as complications from Parkinson’s disease and that he was 77, while some wider coverage highlighted that the shop’s announcement did not specify the location of death — a detail noted explicitly by The New York Times ^{[8] [3]}. The History Channel’s statement made no medical or logistical claims, focusing instead on tribute; the shop’s message provided family context and peaceful‑passing language, but, as contemporaneous reporting shows, left certain specifics (exact place of death) unaddressed ^{[8] [5]}.

4. Tone, audience and implied agendas in the two statements

Both statements balanced mourning and brand stewardship: History’s short, formal condolence preserved the network’s relationship to its star and protected program branding by highlighting his contribution to the show ^[1], while Gold & Silver’s fuller post doubled as a family statement and a customer‑facing communiqué that humanized the shop and managed fan reaction ^{[3] [4]}. That difference reflects implicit agendas: the network offered corporate empathy to protect the franchise’s reputation, the family business offered intimacy to reassure customers and fans while memorializing Harrison’s role as patriarch ^{[1] [3]}.

5. Aftermath and how outlets relayed the official statements

News organizations reproduced both messages: entertainment and local outlets quoted History’s brief condolence and the shop’s extended Facebook posting, and publications quoted Rick Harrison’s Instagram tribute alongside the official statements to flesh out the family perspective; reporting consistently traced key phrases back to the two original statements ^{[6] [9] [5]}. Where sources diverged, fact‑checks like The New York Times noted the shop’s public posts omitted the precise place of death even as they confirmed Parkinson’s disease as the cause ^{[8] [3]}.