May 25, 2010

Selmon Named to Academic Hall of Fame

NORMAN, Okla. -- Dewey Selmon, a two-time Academic All-American during his playing career, was announced today as one of four inductees for the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Hall of Fame.

The other three inductees are Dr. James Kovach, '78 of the University of Kentucky, basketball standout Adonal Foyle, '99 of Colgate University and Connecticut College rowing star Anita DeFrantz, '74.

"Dewey Selmon's career symbolizes OU's commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics," said OU President David L. Boren. "He represents the very best of the Sooner Spirit."

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Program and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione added, "Dewey Selmon and his brothers set an enduring standard that will always inspire student-athletes in our program.

"Dewey has always been committed to excellence, and that has been particularly true of the way he serves mankind. There are no words to describe our pride in Dewey and his accomplishments."

The four honorees will join 108 previous inductees as members of the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame, which was created in 1988. They will be inducted at CoSIDA's annual workshop in San Francisco, California on Tuesday, July 6 during the CoSIDA Hall of Fame Gala. ESPN announcer Ron Franklin will serve as emcee at the event.

"The CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame represents everything we all believe college athletics can be and the Class of 2010 certainly lives up to that standard," said Justin Doherty of the University of Wisconsin, the 2009-10 CoSIDA President. "These four individuals were high achievers as student-athletes and continue to make a positive impact on society to this day. They each add something special to the Academic All-America Hall of Fame and CoSIDA is very proud to recognize their extraordinary contributions."

An Academic All-America defensive lineman in 1974 and 1975, Dewey Selmon was a standout performer on back-to-back national championship teams at Oklahoma. A consensus All-American selection in 1975, he graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in Public Relations. Named as an All-Big Eight Conference defensive lineman twice, he recorded 188 unassisted tackles, 302 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries in his career.

A second round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Selmon played five years in the National Football League. During his career, he started 65 of the 72 games in which he played. He also played briefly with the San Diego Chargers before retiring and founding Selmon Enterprises.

Dewey is joining his older brother Lee Roy Selmon in the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. The elder Selmon was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994.

Selmon has devoted his life to youth and to service. He has passed that tradition on to his children who are the founders of the Shine Foundation. Active in a number of community efforts, he chaired one of the local fund-raising campaigns that helped with the construction of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. He held the position of Norman Housing Authority commissioner and led fund-raising efforts for Norman's Food and Shelter for Friends, a homeless shelter.

Selmon also has served as a United Way volunteer for a number of years, was a basketball coach at Community Christian School and served as a Sunday School teacher for a number of years. He also has been involved in fund-raising campaigns for the American Lung Association, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Children's Miracle Network.

Since 2005, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Shine Foundation, a group started by his children that serves to meet the needs of people around the world.

The group has focused on war-torn areas of West Africa and Selmon has made several trips to that area to build a school for the orphanage that serves as home for the hundreds of children left without parents after years of conflict in that part of the world. (SoonerSports.com)

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