Lee Roy Selmon facts for kids
Selmon with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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| No. 63 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | October 20, 1954 Eufaula, Oklahoma |
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| Died: | September 4, 2011 (aged 56) Tampa, Florida |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Eufaula (OK) | ||||||||
| College: | Oklahoma (1972–1975) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1976 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Lee Roy Selmon (October 20, 1954 – September 4, 2011) was an American professional football player. He was a fantastic defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football as a defensive tackle at the University of Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three brothers who all played football there.
Lee Roy was recognized as an All-American in both 1974 and 1975. He also helped the Oklahoma Sooners win two national championships in a row during those years.
In 1976, the new Buccaneers team chose Selmon as the very first player picked in the 1976 NFL draft. He played for nine seasons, from 1976 to 1984, always with the Buccaneers.
After his football career, Selmon worked at the University of South Florida. He joined their athletic department in 1993. From 2001 to 2004, he was the school's athletic director, leading their sports programs. He was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
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Early Life and School
Lee Roy Selmon grew up on a farm near Eufaula, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of nine children born to Lucious and Jessie Selmon. He was a smart student and a member of the National Honor Society at Eufaula High School. He played football throughout high school and graduated in 1972. His two older brothers also played football and went to the University of Oklahoma, where Lee Roy also attended and earned his degree.
College Football Star
In 1972, Lee Roy joined his brothers Lucious and Dewey Selmon on the defensive line at the University of Oklahoma. He became a huge star in 1974. He was a key player on one of the best defenses in Oklahoma Sooners football history. The Sooners won national championships in both 1974 and 1975.
In 1975, Selmon won two major awards: the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy. Oklahoma's head coach, Barry Switzer, even said Lee Roy was the best player he ever coached! College Football News also ranked him as the 21st-best college player of all time.
Lee Roy Selmon was known as "The Gentle Giant" because he was so strong on the field but kind off it. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named him to their 'NCAA Football All-Century Team.' He was also recognized as an All-American in 1974 and 1975. He received many academic honors too, showing he was great at both sports and school.
Professional Football Career
In 1976, Lee Roy Selmon made history. He was the very first player chosen in the NFL draft, and the first-ever pick for the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. His older brother, Dewey, also joined the Bucs that year.
In his first year, Selmon was named the team's 'Rookie of the Year' and 'MVP' (Most Valuable Player). He played in six Pro Bowls in a row, which means he was one of the best players in the league. In 1979, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Other coaches and players praised him, saying he was incredibly talented.
When Selmon started, the Buccaneers were a new team and struggled a lot. They lost their first 26 games! But Lee Roy helped them turn things around. From 1979 to 1982, he helped the Bucs reach the playoffs three times.
Sadly, a back injury forced him to retire after the 1984 season. In 1986, the Buccaneers honored him by retiring his jersey number, 63. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again. He was also inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. In 2009, he became the first player inducted into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Ring of Honor.
Life After Football
After retiring from football, Lee Roy Selmon stayed in Tampa, Florida. He worked as a bank executive and spent a lot of time helping different charities.
From 1993 to 2001, Selmon worked at the University of South Florida as an assistant athletic director. Later, he became the main athletic director. In this role, he helped start the university's football program. He also led the building of new sports facilities and helped the university's teams join bigger sports conferences like Conference USA and the Big East Conference.
In 2004, Selmon stepped down as athletic director due to health reasons. He then took on a role helping to raise money for the university's sports programs.
Awards and Special Honors
Lee Roy Selmon received many important awards and honors throughout his life:
- In 1988, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- In 1995, he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first player to be honored in the Hall of Fame mainly for his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- In 2010, the NFL Network ranked him as #98 on their list of the top 100 greatest players of all time.
- In 2012, after he passed away, Selmon was inducted into the University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
- A major highway in Tampa, the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, is named after him.
- A chain of restaurants, Lee Roy Selmon's, was also named in his honor.
His Passing
On September 2, 2011, Lee Roy Selmon suffered a serious stroke. He was taken to the hospital in very critical condition.
Sadly, on September 4, 2011, Lee Roy Selmon passed away at the age of 56 due to problems from the stroke. Many people attended his funeral, including former teammates, the current Buccaneers team, the USF football team, and other NFL members. To honor him, both the USF football team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wore a special #63 decal on their helmets for the rest of the 2011 season. He is buried in Trice Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
