Butch Harper Advertisement

At the April 28 town board meeting, member Vicky Parker sponsored Andre "Butch" Harper's idea for a new town phrase "to be displayed at each main artery" entering town. The phrase is: Pahrump: The town with a big heart.

Harper brought more than 80 drawings from Pahrump Valley High School's art club to illustrate the phrase.

After Harper's presentation, the board unanimously voted to put the drawings on display in the town office. Town Manager Bill Kohbarger was tasked to come up with a procedure for voting on designs. The top 10 picks will be brought back to the board, which will then select one to possibly make into a sign.

"The people of this town overwhelm me because they open their hearts all the time," said Harper. "I cut 'letters to the editor' out of the paper when people thank others for helping them when they are stranded on the highway, and I save stories that show people helping others. The people of this town have big hearts."

Two students among those who created designs accompanied Harper to the public podium. Melanie White and Rikki Lamboy, both 17, are members the art club, supervised by Crystal Babrowski each Wednesday after school. There are about 30 students in the club, comprising freshmen through seniors.

"Butch came and spoke to my art group," said Babrowski. "He explained his reasons for wanting to do the project and I just told the students to be creative and design a sign they would like to represent the town. They came up with their own ideas."

"I just challenged them," Harper said. "I asked them how they would like to contribute to the town of Pahrump. The project inspired the kids to get involved with the town."

Gesturing to the attendees at the meeting, Harper said, "These people out here are the heart of Pahrump. It's me and you. When the food pantry needs help, the people in this town respond. When kids need school supplies, everybody in this town contributes from their hearts."

Addressing the board members, he said, "You are the pump that keeps the heart beating."

Harper included a letter from St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City for his donation of a large framed collage of patches from various fire and police departments, military units and other first responders. The donation was made "On behalf of the town of Pahrump and its citizens."

Harper has similar "prominent displays" at Sunrise Children's Hospital in Las Vegas, and other hospitals are requesting displays for their children's benefit.

One of the patch collages was displayed at the town meeting, prompting member Bill Dolan to tell Harper during a break that he would give him all the military patches and medals he accumulated during his 10-year military career.

"I am always collecting patches from any organization that protects and saves lives and helps when disaster occurs in our nation or around the world," said Harper.

Harper credits Brandon Payner, the 10-year-old boy who died last Christmas Eve in Las Vegas from cancer, for giving his life focus after the earlier death of Harper's wife. He made it his mission to help Brandon collect business cards to earn a place in the Guinness World Book of Records.

"People in Pahrump gave me thousands of business cards for Brandon," said Harper. "Part of Brandon's success is the town of Pahrump's success. If Brandon's name goes into the record book, the people of Pahrump are part of that."

Harper believes the phrase should be adopted as Pahrump's official slogan.