Celebrating Lee Roy Selmon: A Tampa Bay Legend

On his birthday, we honor Lee Roy Selmon, the Tampa Bay icon and namesake of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. A true legend on and off the field, Selmon was the Buccaneers’ first-ever draft pick, a six-time Pro Bowler, and the first Buccaneer inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His legacy as a powerful player and dedicated community member continues to inspire our work every day.

Beyond his legendary status in football, Selmon was a major contributor to the growth of the University of South Florida (USF) Athletics and a respected leader known for his warmth and engagement with students. True to his generous spirit, when the expressway was named in his honor, he requested that our agency support his greater purpose of helping and mentoring USF students.

We fulfill this promise through the Selmon STEM Scholarship (S³) Program, which provides internships and support to USF engineering students. Each year, scholarships are given for paid internships and books for USF Engineering students through the program. These internship opportunities increase their educational opportunities and provide invaluable exposure to transportation careers.

We also extend this mission to younger students by sponsoring an annual bridge-building competition for local middle and high schools. The competition allows students to focus on a S.T.E.M. project and work alongside an Engineer, hopefully sparking their interest in a future career.

THEA is proud to continue Lee Roy Selmon’s commitment to education and mentorship in Tampa Bay, and we are honored to carry on his work.