Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion will return with a new look, familiar faces

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is undergoing renovations during the off-season and will be back with a new look next summer.

But there will still be familiar faces.

Chad Allen, a Spring resident, has been a ticket-taker and usher at the Pavilion for two years. Folks may recognize him as the friendly guy who just happens to be in a wheelchair.

Allen, a 49-year-old Spring resident, has muscular dystrophy.

"They (the Pavilion) were having an open house for people to apply for jobs," Allen said. "They were looking for security, ticket-takers, ushers … I told them I love what they have done for the disabled community, and how much I enjoy coming there, so anything I can do, I want to do. They took me under their wing. My first shift was a KSBJ Christian concert. I've been there ever since."

Allen was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was 2, although symptoms were present before then.

"When I stood up, I would fall straight back -- and when I walked I would put my left hand in my left pocket to help support my left leg, which is a couple of inches shorter than my right leg," Allen said. "It was a subconscious action. I didn't think about it; I just did it."

Allen has been the featured Jerry Lee Lewis MDA telethon poster child in both Indiana and Florida. At age 11, Allen filmed a television commercial with the famed spokesman.

"They asked what I wanted to be paid," Allen said. "At the time, I was in a special education class with 27 kids. So I asked for 27 autographed pictures of Jerry Lewis."

Several years later, Allen happened to find love through the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Elizabeth Denehie was featured in Quest magazine -- published by the MDA -- in an article about women in wheelchairs and what dating was like.

"I could really relate to everything she was saying, so I called 411 to get her contact info," Allen said. "I had to build up my nerve, but finally I called and said 'Hey, my name is Chad, and I think we have a lot in common.'"

It took Elizabeth, a graduate of Texas A&M, a few weeks to finally agree to meet Allen.

"She wouldn't let me sit in her house," Allen said. "I had to sit in the backyard with her. She thought I was weird."

Allen eventually won her over. They've been together now for more than 20 years.

Allen has other loves too, including sports and music.

"I really wanted to be into sports somehow, but being in a chair, I'm more of an armchair quarterback," Allen said. "Music just helps me 'be normal.' I like to turn it up loud if I'm having a bad day. It puts me in a better mood."

Or he can just pull a shift at the Pavilion and rock out when the mood strikes.

"Listening to music and being in a section where I can be around people and helping them out is phenomenal," Allen said. "It's just part of me being me."