Interview by Ragan Allgood, Gainesville High School senior and Next Boulevard intern

Meet Ricky Lewallen! Ricky has been a Realtor since 1999 and has worked with the Abernathy Cochran/Next Boulevard for nearly 10 years. He is married to Michelle and they have one daughter, Rachel. He is a lifelong resident of Lula.

“I like meeting new people, and I enjoy building relationships and friendships with them. A lot of my business comes from repeat customers because I focus on nurturing those relationships, so we can maintain both our friendship and a strong, ongoing business connection,” he said. 

We want to thank Ricky for spending time with us recently and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about you and your family.  

A: “I was born in Commerce, but I’ve lived in Hall County for pretty much my whole life, except for about one month. I’m from Lula. I have a wife, Michelle, and one daughter, Rachel. She’s married to Brandon Burnett, and they live in Banks County.”

Q: If you could give someone advice—or go back to your younger self and share some wisdom—what would it be?

A: “If I could go back in time, I would probably get into real estate earlier than I did. I would also probably invest in some Bitcoin and buy stock in Google and Apple.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years?

A: “In the next five years, I’ll probably still be selling real estate. In the next 10 years, I hope to be retired and living well somewhere, enjoying life—playing golf, hunting, and going fishing whenever I want. I hope my wife and I can do some traveling and just enjoy life. On the 10-year plan, we aim to be debt-free and simply enjoying life.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere right now, where would it be?

A: “Alaska—that would be my dream trip. I’m very much a fall and winter person, and I think Alaska would be the most scenic place I would personally enjoy. I would love the wildlife and all the scenery there. I really enjoy a good scenic trip.”

Q: If you could choose someone who is alive today and not a relative to go to lunch with, who would it be, and where would you go?

A: “If I could go to lunch with anybody, I would probably choose a president, because it doesn’t matter who—they’re the most powerful person in the world.” 

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in the community?

A: “I love steaks, so I’m going to say Texas Roadhouse, even though it’s a chain. I also like Cheddar’s because they have variety and I love their appetizers. My most nostalgic place, which I used to love, is Professor’s on Thompson Bridge Road—Michelle and I used to go there when we were dating.”

Q: What is something about our community that you find unique?

A: “The thing I like about our area isn’t just one thing—it’s the variety we have. We have an amazing lake to enjoy, fantastic golf courses, and great schools. Hall County has a ton of parks, and there’s so much to do that people often miss. Whether you enjoy tennis, pickleball, basketball, or other activities, you can find it here. There’s really so much to enjoy in Hall County.”

Q: What is one of your favorite TV shows or movies?

A: “For a movie, I love the Rocky series. As for a TV show, ‘Seinfeld’ is probably my favorite and the one I’ve watched the most, especially reruns. I also really love ‘Heartland’ because it’s very scenic, and I like that. There’s a lot of action in it too. I also enjoy ‘Virgin River’—their last season was my favorite.”

Q: What is something that you would rate a 10 out of 10 every single time?

A: “A day at Miramar Beach—or it could be any beach.”

Q: What is your go-to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?

A: “I would say The Eagles, but I love a variety of music. I’m a music lover, so I enjoy all types and always have. I love everything from The Eagles to Prince, old country music, Michael Jackson—just a variety of stuff. If it’s good, it’s good to me. I’m not really loyal to any one genre. I did listen to rap when I was younger, but not so much anymore. Still, if it’s good, I’ll listen.”

Q: If a movie or series were made about your life, who would play you?

A: “Tom Hanks or Nicolas Cage.”

Q: If you had one extra hour in your day to do anything—just for yourself—what would you do?

A: “I would shoot my bow and arrow.”

Q: What’s your favorite month? Your favorite holiday? What’s the absolute best day on the calendar?

A: “Favorite month? October. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving. Best day on the calendar? The first day of fall.”

Q: Whenever you think of home, what are the first three words that come to mind to describe it?

A: “Security, comfort, and tradition.”