Lee Roy Selmon: Tampa Bay's Favorite Buccaneer

Lee Roy Selmon was not only a superstar on the football field at the former Tampa Stadium, the sombrero, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first started out in 1976. He led the University of Oklahoma to their national championship during his senior year. Sadly, he did not get to play in the Super Bowl, but in a short three years the Bucs were the NFL's laughing stock with a win-less season. Then in 1979 that all changed when they were in the playoffs. After a herniated disc, which kept him out for the season in 1985, he then played his last games as a pro in 1986. I had season tickets during the 1979 season and its subsequent playoffs. Here is my looking back on the native Oklahoman and Tampa Bay resident who left us on September 4, 2011.

Attending the 1979 season with Selmon

The only time I ever attended any Buccaneer games was during the 1979 season. My brother had season tickets, but could not attend the remaining half of the season due to his job. I bought the rest of his tickets so they would not go to waste. Prior to that, you couldn't even give away Bucs tickets. Now they were going to the playoffs and I attended both of those games with the Philadelphia Eagles, which they won. Then I attended the Los Angeles Rams (now St. Louis Rams) which they lost, thereby ending their dreams to the Super Bowl that season.

Selmon Encounters

During the off-season when Selmon was still with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he was Vice President of Community Relations at First Florida Bank (has since been a number of banks with constant mergers and acquisitions). During the early to mid-1980s I was working in the call center for a regional department store based in Tampa. We were responsible for all calls coming to that store whether it was at the warehouse, executive offices or unit stores in the malls. On one fateful day I received a call from Lee Roy Selmon. He immediately stated who he was. I definitely recognized his voice from his many interviews on local TV and radio. He then asked very politely to speak to a certain executive.

Of course I transferred the call by saying "thank you." I must confess I was too nervous to speak to him. Rarely at this job did you get very nice people on the phone, because most of the incoming calls were from complaining customers or egotistical executives. I'll never forget my phone call from Mr. Selmon. There was another time back in the early 1990s I was at the First Florida Bank building downtown. That's where the executive offices were located on the top floor. A lot of commotion was going on in the lobby. It was Lee Roy Selmon going into an elevator. I did not get to see him, except from the back.

Tribute Information & Donations Only

On Tuesday, September 6 at 5 p.m. you can take your signs, cards, candles, flowers, or other commemorative items to be dropped off at Raymond James Stadium between Tom McEwen Boulevard and Martin Luther King, Jr, Boulevard alongside North Dale Mabry Highway.

The Selmon family requests donations to his charities he had worked so diligently with. You can make a donation to Abe Brown Ministries, a ministry to help prisoners by getting their life back on track with preaching the gospel.

Another of Selmon's charities is the University of South Florida Foundation Partnership for Athletics. It was Lee Roy Selmon who was instrumental in finally turning USF, a one-time commuter university, with an impressive football program. There is no question Lee Roy Selmon will be sorely missed throughout Tampa Bay.

SOURCES:

Rick Stroud, "Former Tampa Bay Bucs great Lee Roy Selmon dies two days after suffering a stroke", St. Petersburg Times - Tampabay,com

Selmon Tribute Location Set, Buccaneers.com

Tammie Fields, "Lee Roy Selmon pounded the pavement for prison ministry", WTSP.com

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