"Lee Roy Selmon has always represented the true spirit of what it means to be a Sooner. He will always be remembered for his great talent, personal integrity and sincere concern for others. His example will continue to teach generations of student-athletes the true meaning of team work."
Oklahoma President David L. Boren
"The Sooner family is saddened by the loss of one it’s greatest champions both on and off the field, Lee Roy Selmon. No Sooner player cast a longer shadow over its rich tradition than Lee Roy. He was the winner of both the Outland and Lombardi Award, a two-time consensus First Team All-American with a record of 43-2-1, two consecutive national championships, and the No. 1 draft pick in 1976. In addition to his accomplishments in football, Lee Roy was an honor student and is in the NCAA Academic Hall of Fame exemplifying what every student athlete should aspire to be. Beyond his many and great accomplishments, I believe the true legacy of Lee Roy Selmon lies within the kind of man he was. Lee Roy possessed a combination of grace, humility, and dignity that is rare. His engaging smile and gentleness left you feeling blessed to be in his presence. Best of all, he was all genuine. One would be blessed to have a father, son, uncle, brother, or friend like Lee Roy Selmon.
Former Oklahoma Head Coach Barry Switzer
“To know Lee Roy Selmon was to count him among your most cherished friends. He exuded class and dignity. He was a great and decorated champion at Oklahoma, but far more than that, he lived life like a champion. Lee Roy was an example of what we hope all our student-athletes will become. Lee Roy, like everyone in his family, epitomized greatness, yet remained focused on the welfare of others."
Joe Castiglione, University of Oklahoma Vice President and Athletics Director
"There was a sense of awe every time you were in Lee Roy's presence, and yet that was the last thing he would have wanted. He accomplished so many things in life, but remained a humble, unassuming champion. I hold up many of our previous greats as examples for our current players and Lee Roy is among the very best. All of our players would do well to follow in Lee Roy's footsteps."
Current Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops
A great man, enjoyed watching and meeting him and his brother when they were Tampa Bay Bucs.....they also renamed the CrossTown Xpressway in Tampa to the Leroy Selmon Expressway many years ago....
Yes, his whole family are wonderful people. Lee Ray was a beas on the football field, nobody could block him.
I remember all three quite well
SELMON BROTHERS
The pride of Eufaula, these brothers dominated opposing offenses while playing football at the University of Oklahoma (OU). Lucious II (born March 15 1951), Dewey Willis (born November 19, 1953), and Lee Roy (born October 20, 1954) Selmon, all born at Muskogee, were three of nine siblings who grew up outside Eufaula. Eufaula High School coach Paul Bell coaxed Lucious into running track in the seventh grade and eventually interested him in football. The two younger Selmon brothers, born eleven months apart, belonged to the same class and followed their older brother into football.
University of Oklahoma assistant coach Larry Lacewell traveled to Eufaula to recruit Lucious and, although he had some apprehension about the youngster's size, he noticed the younger brothers and offered the scholarship. Lacewell hoped he would eventually have Dewey and Lee Roy wearing OU crimson. Lucious exceeded the expectations of Lacewell's first visit, becoming an All-American and three-year starter. Dewey and Lee Roy did follow Lucious to Norman, and both skipped the freshman squad to play varsity football their first season. Lucious earned All-American honors in 1973, and Lee Roy and Dewey achieved All-American status in 1974 and 1975, the years that Oklahoma won national championships. Lee Roy also won the Outland and Vince Lombardi trophies in 1975. All three brothers were also accomplished students, and Dewey eventually attained a doctorate in philosophy.
After college Lucious played in the World Football League for the Memphis Southmen. After one season he returned to OU as an assistant coach. In 1995 he left the Sooners and became the linebackers coach for the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Lee Roy as the first pick of their new franchise and the first selection in the 1976 National Football League (NFL) draft. While Lee Roy was with the Buccaneers, the league named him All-Pro six times, and he became the first Tampa Bay player to have his number retired. For thirteen years he held the club's team record for quarterback sacks, before Warren Sapp broke it in 2000. In 1986 Lee Roy retired from football because of a back injury. Two years later he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He also became the first former OU football player to be elected into the NFL Hall of Fame. In 1993 the University of Southern Florida hired him as associate athletic director and then promoted him to athletic director in 2001. In 2000 he opened Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant in Tampa, Florida, which has an expressway named in his honor.
In the second round of the 1976 draft Tampa Bay selected Dewey, making the Selmon brothers the first two picks of their organization. Dewey played for the Buccaneers until 1982, when the team traded him to the San Diego Chargers. After one year with the Chargers Dewey returned to Norman and worked as an oil and gas consultant. He served on the Norman Housing Authority board, and in 1993 he opened his own construction business.
