City of Tampa to Honor Levy Brothers’ Legacy with Street Naming Ceremony News City Council, News General City of Tampa to Honor Levy Brothers’ Legacy with Street Naming[...]

The City of Tampa will hold a street naming ceremony on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. to honor the extraordinary contributions of identical twin brothers J Leonard and George Levy, who were instrumental in transforming Tampa into a major league sports destination.

The intersection of North Himes Avenue and West Ohio Avenue will be designated as "J Leonard and George Levy Ave." The location was specifically chosen for its proximity to Raymond James Stadium, a fitting tribute to the brothers' decades-long efforts to bring professional sports franchises to the Tampa Bay area.

The ceremony will feature remarks from Tampa City Councilman Charlie Miranda, Tampa City Councilman Guido Maniscalco, D.C. Goutoufas, who initiated the honorary street naming on behalf of the Levy family, and Richard Barrett, the son-in-law of Leonard Levy. Following the speakers, attendees will move to the intersection to unveil the new street sign.

Born in Tampa on July 25, 1933, to Solomon and Simmie Levy, the twin brothers dedicated their lives to civic engagement and community development. Their most significant achievement came in 1974 when, as part of a small group that began meeting with then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1970, they successfully secured an NFL franchise for Tampa, bringing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the city.

J Leonard Levy, a University of Florida journalism graduate who served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, chaired the Task Force for five Super Bowls hosted in Tampa from 1984 to 2021. His determination to bring the Super Bowl to Tampa resulted in the city hosting the championship game multiple times at Raymond James Stadium. He also played key roles in establishing the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Tampa Bay Rays, as well as attracting major sporting events including Major League Baseball's World Series and the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championship. He passed away on September 18, 2022.

George Levy, who served in the United States Army and founded George A. Levy Awards (which grew into one of the top ten award businesses in America), was equally committed to Tampa's growth. He served on numerous civic boards and was recognized with awards including the 1999 Tampa Citizen of the Year, the University of Tampa's Center of Ethics Annual Award in 1994, and the Tampa Sports Club's Citizen of the Year in 1998. George Levy passed away on September 27, 2016, at age 83.

Media outlets are invited to attend the street naming ceremony. Please RSVP to [email protected].