Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Unveils Statue Honoring Tampa Icon Lee Roy Selmon

Tampa, Fla. – On June 7, 2019, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) dedicated a statue honoring football icon and community leader Lee Roy Selmon.  The bronze statue, sculpted by Joel Randell, is located on the Selmon Greenway and will forever serve as a community memorial honoring one of Tampa’s greatest champions.

“Lee Roy Selmon is an icon of the community – a leader wrapped in an unpretentious personality that exuded warmth and respect for every person he met,” said THEA CEO Joe Waggoner. “Future generations to come will be reminded of Mr. Selmon’s commitment to education and his community, and our hope is that they- and each of us- will continue to learn from him and be inspired to do our part in making our community a better place.”

Mr. Selmon, the first-ever draft pick in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, played all nine years of his career with Tampa Bay, garnering a host of awards and recognitions that culminated in enshrinement in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Football Hall of Fame. After his professional football career, he became Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations with Barnett Bank. He later joined the University of South Florida’s Athletic Department in 1993 and was instrumental in building USF’s Football program.

Mr. Selmon continued to give back to the Tampa Bay community, and in conjunction with THEA, founded the Selmon STEM Scholarship (S3) Program, aimed at providing young scholars with opportunities and exposure to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in the form of a bridge building competition, monetary scholarships at USF, and paid internships at THEA. The S3 program continues to this day.

About the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority  
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is a user-financed public agency led by a board of local citizens. Operating with no tax dollars, THEA develops and owns toll highways, including Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.  THEA also owns and maintains non-tolled roads, including Brandon Parkway and Meridian Avenue, and the Selmon Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian path through downtown Tampa.  All tolls collected by THEA are reinvested into projects in Hillsborough County. For more information, visitwww.tampa-xway.com.

Follow the THEA on Twitter: @THEASelmon 
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/TampaHillsboroughExpresswayAuthority/

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