A Personal Goodbye to George Levesque at Abilene’s Paramount

Every now and then, a story comes across your desk that doesn’t feel like “content.” This is one of those.

Our friend, a guy this community knows very well, George Levesque, is leaving Abilene. And yeah, it’s for an incredible opportunity… but man, this one stings a little.

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Not Just a Leader… One of Us

I’ve known George for years, going all the way back to his days at KTXS-TV. For 18 years, he was a steady, familiar voice in our homes. Ya know, the kind of guy you trust without even thinking about it.

Then he stepped into the role at the Paramount Theatre in 2018… and didn’t just keep it running, he elevated it.

More Shows. Bigger Moments. Packed Houses.

You had bands like Blue October rolling through, celebrating major milestones and packing the house wall-to-wall. You had shows like That Arena Rock Show that straight-up transformed the Paramount into a time machine with lasers, smoke, and a crowd that forgot what year it was for a couple of hours. And so much more.

It was the steady drumbeat of everything else: the classic films that brought people back to that old-school movie magic, the live performances, the plays, the community events… the nights where you didn’t need a massive name on the marquee, you just needed to be in that room.

Heck, the great Reed Timmer and his Dominator stormed into the Paramount.

Because something was always happening.

Everywhere That Mattered

George didn’t just lead from an office. He showed up:

• At McMurry University.
• With the Abilene Zoological Society.
• Helping shape the community through the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• Even taking time to connect with kids at the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival.

That’s not resume stuff. That’s heart. That’s someone who actually loved Abilene.

The Kind of Guy You Root For

The truth is, this is a massive win for George. He’s heading to lead the historic Tampa Theatre as CEO, and there’s no doubt he’s going to crush it. But it’s also a loss for Abilene. A real one.

Because guys like George don’t come around all the time. The kind that makes things better just by being involved. The kind that quietly builds something meaningful and leaves it stronger than they found it.

Abilene’s Gonna Feel This One

I think a lot of us are going to notice this more than we expect.

It’ll be in the moments, walking into the Paramount, seeing a big event, hearing about something new in town, and realizing the guy who helped make so much of that happen… isn’t here anymore. That’s tough.

One More Thing, George

We’re proud of you. Seriously. But don’t get it twisted… this community is going to miss the heck out of you.

Now go take Florida by storm, but just know you’ve always got a standing ovation waiting for you back here in Abilene. Thank you for all you have done for the Key City and beyond, sir!