MARK WAITE / PVT Three generations of the Hafen family involved in the family business are, from left, Greg Hafen, Greg Hafen II and Tim Hafen, posing here for a photo during a break at a Nye County Commission meeting. Advertisement

Three generations of the Hafen family sat together, watching the proceedings at the Nye County Commission meeting last week.

Greg Hafen II is the latest member to step into the family business, one of three sons of Greg Hafen, an attorney, who is the sole son of Tim Hafen.

Tim Hafen joked his son Greg Hafen has a law degree.

Greg Hafen II graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a business degree, while he (Tim) has the high school degree.

He was actively involved in researching the Nye County short-term habitat conservation plan for the desert tortoise, which would affect the family's Indian Roads subdivision, which would lie in the high fee area.

Greg Hafen said his son is working on development projects, legal matters and water rights.

"This kid's doing everything. All he needs is a little more seasoning. He needs a little more historical background, which I'm injecting him with as fast as I can," Tim Hafen said during a break in county commission proceedings.

Greg Hafen II moved to Pahrump from Las Vegas six months ago.

Tim Hafen moved to Pahrump on July 2, 1951 with his father, Max, who bought 840 acres from Elmer Bowman at $32 per acre. Tim bought a house trailer for $400 in North Las Vegas and towed it to Pahrump via the rough road through Johnnie.

Tim Hafen farmed cotton and alfalfa in Pahrump, and obtained his real estate broker's license in 1969. He stopped farming in Pahrump altogether two years ago.

He is a one-time state assemblyman and was instrumental in getting electricity to Pahrump valley as well as the four-lane highway from Las Vegas.

One of Tim Hafen's four daughters, Vicki Hafen Scott of Henderson, often helps out with projects as well, like the attempt to build a new community college on the southeast end of Pahrump.

Greg Hafen often handles legal arguments on family projects in front of the Nye County government agencies.

Younger generations, in many cases, have been better adapted to the computer age, and the Hafen family is no exception.

"He's doing a huge service because everything's on the computer," Tim Hafen said of his grandson, Hafen II. "I don't know how the hell to turn a computer on. When I want a map or an agreement I yell at him and I say, 'Hey get that for me.' It's better than me going through those paper files like I used to."

"When we're done with him, he could go off and get a high priced consulting job," the family patriarch said. But he added, "We got a lifeline on him so he can't leave."

The Web site for the family firm, HHH Investments LLC, also lists Hafen Ranch Development Limited Partnership, Hafen Ranch Estates and Pahrump Utility Company, the water and sewer utility for their developments at the south end of Pahrump.

"We have several companies, depending on the project. We do that for various reasons. Mostly there's a little variation in ownership sometimes," Tim Hafen said.

Hafen developed the 900-lot Artesia subdivision on the family ranch site and the neighboring Cottonwood subdivision.

Speaking of the upcoming Indian Road subdivision, which will include 448 home sites, he said, "When we bought the Sharp property down there, there were two or three other minor investors, so we have formed a new company to reflect that."

At 76, the question may arise: when will Tim retire?

"It's kind of hard to let go," he said.