Bringing Success Home
George Wilson has known the value of hard work since he was young. Growing up on the farm belonging to his grandfather, George Reeves Jr., taught him all about making his own way in life. Those ideals led George through four seasons of college football as a wide receiver at the University of Arkansas — where he earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2003 — and 11 seasons of professional football as a safety with the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans, during which he received two Walter Payton Man of the Year Awards. But his family wasn’t alone in raising a future Hall of Famer — George credits the entire town of Paducah, KY, for his success.
“The people of Paducah are a big part of who I am today,” Wilson said. “People around the community who supported me throughout the years. I was raised by a village; it’s that village that brought me back.”
Now retired from the NFL, George has returned to Paducah to raise his son and give back to the community that helped raise him. His S.A.F.E.T.Y. Foundation (Save Adolescents From the Everyday Trials of Youth) provides young people with the life skills they need to succeed through leadership retreats, football camps and after-school programs. George also hosts the annual Summer SportsFest, benefiting his high school alma mater — Paducah Tilghman High School — and works with Toys for Tots to provide more than 5,000 donations and gifts to local Paducah families.
Philanthropy isn’t George’s only game, however. He also runs a successful outdoor venue and lodging facility on his grandfather’s original farm. Phonograph Farms offers guests a picturesque space for weddings, reunions and other events and even utilizes farm-fresh produce, honey and eggs as special souvenirs.
George’s mission to positively impact Paducah comes through in every aspect of what he does, and he feels bringing the community together is what is most needed right now. “I want Paducah to be one. Whether that’s economic development, quality of the school system and student experience, or supporting local businesses.”
As a fourth-generation steward on his family’s farm, George has become a staple of the Paducah community. He is someone who lifts up not only himself but the people around him at the same time. George’s sights are set on a rich future for Paducah and its residents, and he believes that the future begins by looking after other people simply because they’re human.