Lee Roy Selmon Day is a designation honoring the football player Lee Roy Selmon. October 20 is the day of his birth, and it has been proclaimed “Lee Roy Selmon Day” by state officials in Florida and the City of Tampa. He was a defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the first overall pick in the 1976 NFL draft, and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He died on Sept. 2, 2011 at the age of 56 from complications of stroke.
Lee Roy Selmon’s legacy extends beyond his football career. He helped establish the University of South Florida’s football program and served as the school’s athletic director. He was also a dedicated philanthropist, known for his community involvement. Selmon and his brothers Dewey and Lucious are from Eufaula, and played football at the University of Oklahoma where they anchored the defense and won a national championship under Barry Switzer. Dewey was a second round draft pick to Tampa Bay the same year they drafted Lee Roy.
