The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Volume 2, Issue 11

General Published on : 11/2/2012

The Haggar Gold Jacket Report is a weekly update on recent news surrounding the very select group of men who’ve earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hall of Famers Birthdays

Oct. 26 - *Sid Gillman (1911)
Oct. 27 - *Bill George (1929)
Oct. 31 - *Wilbur “Pete” Henry (1897)
Oct. 31 - *Cal Hubbard (1900)
Nov. 1 - Tom Mack (1943)
Nov. 1 - Ted Hendricks (1947)
*Deceased

Pro Football Hall of Famer LEE ROY SELMON’S legacy extended far beyond the gridiron and last week his life was remembered by the state of Florida where he played his entire professional career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A state proclamation designated Oct. 20, 2012, Lee Roy Selmon Day across the entire “Sunshine” state. Selmon's widow, Claybra, was presented with a framed copy of the proclamation during a special gathering at One Buccaneer Place on what would have been Lee Roy’s 58th birthday.

"Lee Roy Selmon put the Buccaneers and even Tampa Bay on the map,'' team co-chairman Bryan Glazer said.

"It was more than his dominant play on the field that made him the everlasting face of this franchise. It was his incredible heart and inherent goodness. It was his drive to have a positive impact wherever he went and his humility through all of it. We were all blessed to have him for the time we had him.''

Selmon, who after retiring from football, remained in the Tampa area. He made a strong impact on the community, particularly as associate athletic director with the University of South Florida. Lee Roy passed away suddenly on Sept. 4, 2011.

"It's very bittersweet, but mostly sweet, and I just miss Lee Roy being here to witness all of this,'' said Claybra Selmon, who was joined on stage by their three children.

She continued, "It's wonderful to see the state and the city saluting Lee Roy for the things he has done in this community and the way he gave himself away to the city and the state of Florida.”

"We come together today to honor a man and a family who left this community far better than it was when they encountered it,'' said James Grant, who sponsored House Resolution 9097. "It's a day that is quite humbling to celebrate the recognition of what the Selmon family has meant to our community.''

***

MARV LEVY, the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach has added author to his list of career achievements over the past few years. Levy has penned an autobiography “Marv Levy: Where Else Would You Rather Be?,” a football mystery novel “Between the Lies,” and co-authored another football book “Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Buffalo Bills Football History.”

Now, it seems that he is working on another book about one of his other passions, poetry. The former coach has always had an affinity for poetry beginning at any early age due to his mother Ida's deep love for the works of Shakespeare, Milton and Keats. Marv eventually went on to earn a Master's degree in English History from Harvard University.

"He's a great fan of poetry and used to quote it all the time," said his friend, Bill Polian, “It doesn't surprise me a bit."

It seems that Levy is in the early stages of developing his book of poetry and no release date is set just yet.

***

Pro Football Hall of Fame great STEVE YOUNG and his wife Barb stay busy raising their four young children. Recently, the two have found the time to put together the plans for a huge project for their Forever Young Foundation.

Through their foundation they have a very active role in children's health issues. The Youngs are looking to develop music therapy programs for sick children and want to bring music therapy to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto.

Steve's foundation already created the playroom at the Children’s Hospital called The Forever Young Zone years ago. Now, they’re looking for a permanent location inside the new children's hospital expansion for their next program called Sophie's Place.

"Once you see it and get a vision for Sophie and Sophie's Place, and what music therapy actually does, it's like great ideas sell themselves," said Young.

"You've got children who can't even speak, yet in music therapy, they can sing. Children that can't move, then in music therapy, they're able to dance, or bang on a drum," said Barb.

Sophie's Place will honor their dear family friend, 17-year-old singer, songwriter Sophie Barton.

Sophie died suddenly, while on a hike, with her mother in Salt Lake City. The Youngs are very close with the Barton family. Sophie was one of five children, who are all talented musicians. Sophie dedicated much of her time to charity.

"People need to know who she was, she was a phenomenal person," said Steve.

"She herself was volunteering so much time," said Barb.

"It's going to be this wonderful music therapy room, that the music therapists can bring in children and work with them, but it's also going to have a sound studio so children can make their own music," said Barb.

The first Sophie's Place is being built in the Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. The Young’s are hoping Lucile Packard Children's Hospital will be next.

"We've committed to a plan to where we could fund a music therapist in the future," said Steve.

"Sports are important and useful and teach great lessons, but it doesn't work everywhere. Music works everywhere. It changes everything," said Young.

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