From Happy Valley to Tampa City Hall: A Nittany Lion’s Journey
Alumni Spotlight: Bob Buckhorn, Penn State Class of 1980
From walking on to the Penn State lacrosse team and dancing at THON to helping transform Tampa’s waterfront, former Mayor Bob Buckhorn credits his Penn State experience with shaping a lifetime of leadership, friendship, and service.
A Penn State Connection That Began Generations Ago
For Bob Buckhorn, Penn State was more than a college destination. It was part of a family story that began decades before he ever set foot in State College.
His family’s connection to the legendary Joe Paterno and his family dates back to Brooklyn, New York, in the 1930s.
When Buckhorn arrived at University Park as a freshman, he knew virtually nobody. But he had one particularly reassuring connection: Coach Paterno.
“Every time I would see him on campus he would ask how I was doing, how my grades were and he would remind me to call him if I needed anything,” Buckhorn recalled.
Although he never needed to take Paterno up on the offer, knowing someone was looking out for him made an unfamiliar campus feel a little more like home.
The Walk-On Who Learned to Lead
Buckhorn joined Penn State’s varsity lacrosse program as a walk-on under legendary coach Glenn Thiel.
He readily acknowledges that many of his teammates were more accomplished athletes, but making the varsity roster was an achievement he treasured.
His contribution wasn’t measured in goals or playing time. It was measured in effort, commitment, and a willingness to make those around him better.
“My mission was to be the best teammate I could be and to do whatever I could to make the team better.”
That lesson followed him far beyond the lacrosse field, influencing how he approached professional relationships, organizational leadership, and eventually the challenges of leading a major American city.
Buckhorn also joined Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, where he developed friendships that would influence the next chapter of his life.
THON, Fraternity Pride, and Lasting Memories
Ask Buckhorn about his favorite Penn State memories, and his answer comes quickly: THON in 1979 and 1980.
He represented Kappa Delta Rho as a dancer for two consecutive years, during an era when THON was considerably smaller than the extraordinary philanthropic tradition it has become today.
His fraternity partnered with Delta Delta Delta, and together the organizations had established a remarkable record of fundraising success.
After finishing second in his first year as a dancer, Buckhorn and his fraternity brothers returned the following year determined to reclaim their title.
They succeeded.
For Buckhorn, winning the Greek fundraising competition during his final semester was a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable college experience.
Decades later, those memories remain among his favorites.
A 1966 Dodge Dart, $300, and a New Beginning
After graduating from Penn State in 1980, Buckhorn entered Navy flight training in Pensacola, Florida.
An unexpected medical issue involving his cornea ended those plans.
Suddenly, the young graduate faced an uncertain future.
With approximately $300, one suit, and a 1966 Dodge Dart, he headed to Tampa, where a Penn State fraternity brother offered him a place to stay.
He knew almost nobody else in the city.
Six months later, his fraternity brother moved away, leaving Buckhorn to build his future independently.
His takeaway from that experience remains relevant to young graduates today.
“Life is going to knock you down sometimes,” he reflected, emphasizing that what matters is the willingness to get back up and keep going.
It was a defining moment, and one that ultimately helped shape his career.
Building a Career and Giving Back to Tampa
Buckhorn found his professional footing working on Sandy Freedman’s mayoral campaign, eventually serving nearly a decade as her special assistant.
The lessons from Penn State resurfaced repeatedly: work hard, build relationships, support your teammates, and remain committed to something larger than yourself.
In 1991, Buckhorn helped lead the community effort to protect MacDill Air Force Base when its future was threatened by a proposed closure.
He recalls the uncertainty facing Tampa at the time, given the installation’s importance to the regional economy.
Over several years, a broad coalition of community leaders, military retirees, and elected officials worked to demonstrate MacDill’s strategic importance.
The effort ultimately helped secure the base’s future.
For Buckhorn, it was another example of what committed people could accomplish by working together.
Helping Tampa Rediscover Its Waterfront
Buckhorn went on to serve as Tampa’s mayor for two terms, from 2011 through 2019.
Among the accomplishments he remembers most fondly are the completion of the Tampa Riverwalk and the transformation of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
These projects helped reconnect neighborhoods, encourage private investment, and bring new life to Tampa’s urban waterfront.
Buckhorn sees the river as one of Tampa’s greatest natural assets, something that distinguishes the city from so many others.
The Riverwalk created a continuous waterfront experience connecting destinations from the Florida Aquarium toward Armature Works, fundamentally changing how residents and visitors experience downtown.
“It brought immense pride to our city and changed the way we feel about Tampa.”
Today, these spaces are enjoyed by families, runners, cyclists, visitors, and countless Tampa Bay residents, including many fellow Penn Staters.
Once a Nittany Lion, Always a Nittany Lion
Despite building his career more than a thousand miles from State College, Buckhorn’s connection to Penn State has never diminished.
He continues to follow Penn State athletics, return for games, and maintain friendships with fraternity brothers and former teammates.
His daughter graduated from Penn State in 2023, providing another meaningful opportunity to reconnect with the university through a new generation.
Buckhorn was also honored with Penn State’s Outstanding Political Science Alumni Award, recognition he describes as deeply humbling.
He credits his Liberal Arts education with sharpening his interest in public service and helping him develop the leadership skills he would rely on throughout his career.
Above all, he hopes his experience encourages younger generations to consider how they can contribute to their communities.
His Advice to the Next Generation of Tampa Bay Penn Staters
For recent Penn State graduates arriving in Tampa Bay, perhaps without a detailed plan or an established network, Buckhorn offers an encouraging perspective.
He sees Tampa as a city filled with opportunities for ambitious young professionals willing to invest in their futures and communities.
His advice is straightforward: work hard, build relationships, contribute to the betterment of the community, respect its diversity, and take responsibility for preserving what makes Tampa special.
It is advice shaped by more than four decades of living in the city, beginning with that uncertain arrival in a 1966 Dodge Dart.
What “We Are” Means After More Than Four Decades
For Buckhorn, the words “We Are” represent something much bigger than a stadium chant or a university tradition.
They reflect membership in a lifelong community of alumni who share an enduring connection to Penn State and to one another.
He believes that connection also carries a responsibility: to represent the university with integrity and contribute positively wherever life takes us.
It is a sentiment that resonates particularly strongly with our Greater Tampa Bay alumni community, where thousands of Penn Staters have built careers, raised families, formed friendships, and made this region their home.
From University Park to Tampa City Hall, Bob Buckhorn’s story reminds us that the lessons learned at Penn State don’t end at graduation.
They travel with us.
We Are… Penn State!
The Penn State Alumni Association – Greater Tampa Bay Chapter celebrates the experiences, accomplishments, and community contributions of our local alumni. Alumni Spotlight features are nonpartisan and do not constitute political endorsements.