By virtue of a state proclamation, today is Lee Roy Selmon Day. HR 9097 sponsor, State Rep. James Grant, honored the late Buc and Bull by presenting Claybra Selmon (the late Selmon’s widow and mother to the couple’s three children) the honor on what would have been Selmon’s birthday. The generous father, husband, businessman, USF Bull and Bucs hall of famer would have been 58 today.

It’s been just over a year since Selmon died of complications from a stroke on September 4, 2011.

“It’s very bittersweet, but mostly sweet, and I just miss Lee Roy being here to witness all of this,” said Claybra Selmon.

When Lee Roy Selmon retired from professional football, he stayed in the Tampa Bay area and became known for his involvement at USF as well as his presence within the community. Claybra Selmon said of the honor, “Lee Roy was devoted to this community in a very public way and it’s nice to see that love returned to him. It’s very deserving.”

He was the Buccaneers first ever draft pick and remains their sole representative in the pro football Hall of Fame. Bryan Glazer, the Bucs co-chariman, noted that Selmon “put the Buccaneers and even Tampa Bay on the map”. Glazer went on to say, “It was more than his dominant play on the field that made him the everlasting face of this franchise. It was his incredible heart and inherent goodness. It was his drive to have a positive impact wherever he went and his humility through all of it. We were all blessed to have him for the time we had him.”