Lee Roy Selmon's influence on the Tampa Bay area has been felt far and wide.
Those who know him well, and there are many, describe a gentle, distinguished man of unwavering faith and uncompromising integrity.
Nine individuals who know him best were asked to share their thoughts about Selmon and experiences with him. Here are excerpts of their responses:
DOUG WILLIAMS, Grambling football coach, and former Bucs teammate
"The first time I met him was a story in itself. I was the (Bucs') No. 1 pick, and after I was drafted they took us all to Sarasota. I had a chance to meet Lee Roy, and all I was thinking was, he was at Oklahoma, he had been the No. 1 draft pick and how tough he was when he sacked the quarterback. I was looking for this mean and ferocious quarterback killer. I was (expecting) this rough voice, "Hey man.' But when I met him he shook my hand, and he says, "Hey guy, how are you doing?' And I'm thinking, "Oh Lord.' I'm saying, "That's Lee Roy Selmon?' The guy's as nice as pie. I always respected Lee Roy Selmon from Day One; he was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet. If you know Lee Roy and his character and the type of person he is, you'd never have thought he'd be that type of player."
MICHAEL RIERSON, USF vice president for advancement
"One time Lee Roy, (USF president Judy Genshaft) and I went to visit a university donor at their home. Well, we got the dates mixed up somehow, and the donor wasn't home when we arrived. One of his children answered the door and let us in. We went in and sat down at the kitchen table, the three of us and the young boy. He was probably about 10, and he wanted so much to talk to Lee Roy. It was like Santa had arrived in October. He was asking him about playing for the Bucs, and Lee Roy was asking him about his homework. Lee Roy was so patient and funny, he said, "Let's call up your dad and find out where he is.' He wasn't interested in leaving -- "Oh, it's a scheduling mix-up, let's go' -- he was interested in talking with him. He was so gentle with the young man and caring and giving."
DON BARR, USF tennis coach
"In the spring of 2001, I had a heart attack during the Miami match. I was in the university hospital for about two weeks; I had a quadruple bypass done. He visited at least three times; it might have been even more than that. And it wasn't just in and out. He stayed for quite a while and we talked. He just reassured me. He said that right now the main thing is your health; don't worry about tennis. When you get back on your feet and come back, your job's right here and we're supporting you. He was more concerned about me and my health. That shows quite a bit, when an athletic director has the pressures that he has, that shows his character. And I want to do that in return for him now (during Selmon's health-related six-week sabbatical).
"The other thing that really showed (his character) was when I lost my son, in '95. I remember him being there and giving reassurance. He came to the funeral and had some kind words. That's the first-class person he is. My son died suddenly. ... Lee Roy assured me to take as much time as I needed. He was an assistant (athletic director) then, but he was there and very, very supportive."
CHRIS SULLIVAN, Business partner and Outback Steakhouse CEO
"He's just a great human being. He's always handled himself with such grace. He's so humble, but at the same time he was one of the great athletes ever to come through. He's always got that great, infectious smile and soft way about him. They've got a highway named after him! I can't think of anyone more liked and respected.
"And he's the worst golfer I've ever seen, but he still always keeps a smile on his face. We've played a couple of times. He's obviously spent a lot more time on football and basketball then he ever has at golf."
JACK HARRIS, Local radio host and former Bucs announcer
"I was driving through Miami one weekend and I got on the Don Shula Expressway. I thought, what an incredible honor, and it made me think of Lee Roy Selmon. When I came back I said, "We need to push to get something really significant named after Lee Roy Selmon.' At first I was thinking the Veterans Expressway, not the Crosstown. We got on the air and decided to approach it that way. We said, you know what, Lee Roy Selmon has done so much for this community, we need to honor him, and I talked about the Shula Expressway and so on. Well, we got a call from (Sen. John Grant, R-Tampa), who was a state senator then. He called us, and we put him on the air, and the rest is history. He said, "I think that's a great idea, I'm going to take it to the legislature. . . . Lee Roy of course was very humble, saying, "Shucks, you shouldn't have done it.' I've never, ever known any person of his star magnitude who had that kind of a demeanor. To me he is in a category of sainthood. From the outside he's flawless. When you're around somebody long enough, anybody, you find a flaw. But that never happened with Lee Roy. The guy is as close to perfection as any human being can get."
JUDY GENSHAFT, USF president
"When we visited the presidents of the Big East universities, they were very interested in programs that placed a high value on integrity. They kept stressing that point. Then Lee Roy spoke. He talked about student-athletes and how much he cared about them as people. He said he thought it was important for them to work hard and follow the rules because that's where their future was. Lee Roy and I have always made a good team, but that moment probably illustrates that better than any other. The Big East officials were clearly impressed, and they told us they were confident in the leadership at USF. I saw firsthand how Lee Roy's character, integrity and leadership made a difference."
JOE CASTIGLIONE, Oklahoma athletic director
"There simply isn't a player or coach that has more respect of the people in Oklahoma than Lee Roy Selmon. It's really his whole family; they're all fantastic people. It's really a great American story. I would put Lee Roy Selmon amongst the most impressive human beings I've ever met in my life. That's how highly I regard him. I run short of superlatives when I try to describe Lee Roy Selmon. He's certainly one of the most accomplished people we have seen but definitely one of the most humble. It's not surprising to see how and why people flock to him.
"(In 2002 Selmon was honored at the South Florida-Oklahoma football game in Norman, Okla.) That standing ovation, it made the hair on your spine stand up. With Lee Roy, it was their love pouring out. I think of it today, and I still get chills. People didn't want to let it go, and Lee Roy is saying, "Oh, they don't have to do that.' He's so humble. It's truly an endearing quality. He doesn't want people to do anything special. He's grateful, but he wants to put the spotlight on somebody else."
JIM LEAVITT, USF football coach
"He is just an outstanding man. Sometimes we (joke around) ... Lee Roy and I were driving together, and he was in the passenger side of the car, and it was right after the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway toll had just jumped, from like 25 cents to 75 cents or something like that. We pulled up to the toll booth, and I said to the (toll collector), "I cannot believe how high this toll has become. What's the deal? Is it because of Lee Roy Selmon? I'm going to find this Lee Roy Selmon and tell him a thing or two.' He was just sitting there next to me completely embarrassed. He didn't know what I was doing. I said, "What the heck is going on? Who is this Lee Roy Selmon?' She said, "Sir, I apologize.' I said, "My goodness, if I could find this Lee Roy Selmon, I'd tell him a thing or two.' Then I pointed to him next to me and told her I had Lee Roy right here, that I was just kidding. He thought I was crazy."
DICK WITTCOFF, Longtime USF athletics booster
"He's an icon. Have you ever met a nicer person? He has never tried to bluff me. I ask him a question, I always get a straight answer. When he doesn't have the answer, he says "Dick, I don't know.' You always respect somebody like that. He never gives you the song-and-dance. At the same time he's such a personal, private-type guy. I know nothing about him. I've only met his wife twice in the years I've been here. I've met his daughter once and junior a few times. He's very protective of his personal life."
