Larry Buendorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Buendorf
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Buendorf (in foreground, with sunglasses) protecting Ford on September 5, 1975, the day of the assassination attempt
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| Born |
Larry Merle Buendorf
November 18, 1937 Wells, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Died | March 9, 2025 (aged 87) |
| Alma mater | Minnesota State University, Mankato, B.S. 1959 |
| Occupation | Chief Security Officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Secret Service special agent |
Larry Merle Buendorf (November 18, 1937 – March 9, 2025) was an American hero. He was a Navy pilot and a Secret Service agent. He also served as the main security officer for the United States Olympic Committee. Buendorf is best known for stopping an attack on U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1975.
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Larry Buendorf was born in Wells, Minnesota, on November 18, 1937. He graduated from Wells High School in 1955. In 1959, he earned a degree in Business from Mankato State University.
After college, Buendorf joined the United States Navy. He became a pilot and served during the Vietnam War. In 1970, he joined the Secret Service. He worked there for 23 years.
Secret Service Career
The United States Secret Service protects the President and other important leaders. They also investigate financial crimes. Buendorf worked in different Secret Service offices. These included Chicago, Denver, and Omaha.
From 1972 to 1977, he was part of the Presidential Protective Division. This meant he directly protected the President. Later, from 1983 to 1993, he was in charge of protecting President Gerald Ford and Mrs. Ford again.
Stopping an Attack on President Ford
On September 5, 1975, President Gerald Ford was in Sacramento, California. He had just given a speech and was greeting a crowd. A woman named Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was in the crowd. She pointed a gun at President Ford.
Larry Buendorf was right there. He quickly grabbed the gun from Fromme's hand. He then brought her to the ground, stopping the attack. His quick actions saved the President.
For his bravery, Buendorf received two special awards. He got the U.S. Treasury Meritorious Service Award. He also received the United States Secret Service Valor Award. After this event, Buendorf and President Ford stayed in touch. They would talk on the phone every year on the anniversary of the attack.
Protecting the U.S. Olympic Committee
After leaving the Secret Service in 1993, Buendorf took on a new role. He became the Chief Security Officer for the United States Olympic Committee. His office was in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
His job was to keep the Olympic Committee's facilities safe. This included monitoring security at training sites. These sites were in Lake Placid, New York, and Chula Vista, California. He wanted the Olympic grounds to feel welcoming, not like a fortress. He believed in having a strong but friendly security presence. Buendorf retired from this role in 2018.
Later Life and Achievements
Larry Buendorf passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on March 9, 2025, at the age of 87.
He was honored for his athletic achievements. He was inducted into the Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame. Buendorf also appeared in a TV documentary. It was called Inside the U.S. Secret Service and came out in 2004.
