Lee Roy Selmon Finally Gets His More Personal Honor

Philadelphia has its statue of a man that never existed anywhere, but on Hollywood film reels in Rocky Balboa. At Hart Plaza in Detroit, there is a huge fist of Joe Louis suspended from beams that form a pyramid shape. Disney has a statue of Walt on Main Street. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has statues of Spurrier, Wuerffel, and Tebow. So it’s somewhat surprising that there isn’t a statue of the beloved Buc Defensive end Hall of Famer and former USF Athletic Director Lee Roy Selmon. Oh sure, he has the crosstown and an Athletic Facility at USF named after him. A statue, though, just seems more personal, and intimate, which is why I’m excited about the plans to unveil one very soon.

“The statue will be commemorated June 7th in a ceremony at the Selmon Greenway, a 1.7-mile paved trail that runs across downtown Tampa, much of it in the shade of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.” — Greg Auman

He was number #63 on the field, but #1 in our hearts, Selmon was the first of only three players to have his number retired by the Bucs. A Leader in the Community and USF Campus just like he was on the field, Selmon rose to the top of everything he did. He was the cream of the crop, the best of the best. We lost Selmon way too soon at the young age of 56. It was truly a loss for the Tampa Bay Community and to all the lives he touched and all of those who will never get the chance to be impacted by our hero. Philly has it’s Balboa statue, and that’s wonderful, but isn’t it nice to know that our Hero actually walked among us every day, as his spirit, and good-natured will, for as long as he, and his Legacy, will be remembered. This statue helps to that end and is right on time.