Lee Roy Selmon's name goes on USF athletic facility

Lee Roy Selmon generally shunned attention. It was true when he emerged as the Buccaneers' cornerstone player. It was evident when he became the franchise's first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And it continued when Selmon joined the University of South Florida's athletic staff, becoming the catalyst for the school's burgeoning football program.

Selmon never wanted it to be about him.

Wednesday afternoon, that was impossible.

It was all about him. And deservedly so, said USF president Judy Genshaft, who oversaw the renaming of the school's main athletic facility as the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center during a public ceremony. It was attended by Selmon's widow, Claybra; his children, Lee Roy Jr., Brandy and Christopher; and his older brother, Lucious.

Virtually all of USF's athletic teams were represented in the crowd of approximately 300.

"Not a day goes by when I don't think of Lee Roy or miss him tremendously,'' Genshaft said. "It gives me great joy to say that every student who comes through these doors will see his name — forever.''

Selmon died on Sept. 4 at age 56, stunning the Tampa Bay area as a whole, but specifically affecting the USF community. Since 1993, Selmon worked in high-profile fundraising roles for USF and had a three-year stint as athletic director. But the thing he loved — and perhaps his area of greatest impact — was serving as a mentor.

"Lee Roy had a magical way of interacting with our student-athletes,'' USF athletic director Doug Woolard said. "He knew what it took to be a big-time college athlete or a professional athlete. He knew the importance of academics. He was the quintessential role model, so when Lee Roy came to the university, people associated USF with that kind of credibility.''

That will continue.

Outside the building's main entrance, there's a plaque outlining Selmon's legacy.

An enduring example of integrity, academic excellence, compassion, competitiveness and commitment to young people.

"He was such a great man, such an inspiration to all of us,'' said USF baseball player Chad Taylor, one of the Bulls already chosen to wear the rotating No. 63 jersey this season in honor of Selmon, a tradition begun by coach Lelo Prado. "He lives inside all of us. You don't want to do anything to let down Mr. Selmon.''

Football coach Skip Holtz, who spoke along with quarterback B.J. Daniels and linebacker Sam Barrington, said Selmon is the main reason he came to USF in 2010. Holtz said he was taken by Selmon's personality during an initial dinner meeting that included Woolard and Bill McGillis, USF's executive associate athletic director.

"Doug and Bill and Judy Genshaft did a great job selling me and attracting me to USF,'' Holtz said. "But here was Lee Roy Selmon, not the AD, not the president, not somebody really in a selling mode. He was just being himself. I remember thinking, 'OK, I'm going to trust you with my life with this decision.'

"He believed in the university, believed in the area. The reason we're all sitting here today with a football program at USF is Lee Roy Selmon.''

Genshaft said Selmon was an integral reason why USF was accepted into the Big East Conference in 2004.

"We were presenting our case and it was kind of an anxious time because it was very important for the athletic department's future,'' Genshaft said. "Lee Roy was always very encouraging. He said, 'We'll do fine. Don't worry about it. After they hear all about us, we'll be fine.'

"We had entered a new era for the university and Lee Roy was at the center of it all. But he never lost sight of individuals. He always believed, first and foremost, that athletics were the vehicle that gave students an opportunity to attend college. He always cared about the students first. Someone like that can never be forgotten.''

Wednesday afternoon, it was assured that Selmon will be forever remembered at USF.