Larry Buendorf

Larry Merle Buendorf (November 18, 1937 – March 9, 2025) was a United States Navy aviator and Secret Service agent. He served as Chief Security Officer of the United States Olympic Committee. Buendorf broke up an assassination attempt on United States President Gerald Ford in 1975.

Early life and navy service Buendorf was born in Wells, Minnesota, on November 18, 1937, as the son of Ruby and Merle Buendorf. He graduated from Wells High School in Minnesota in 1955. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Mankato State University in 1959. After service in the United States Navy as a Naval Aviator in the Vietnam War, he joined the Secret Service in 1970, where he was employed for 23 years.

Secret Service career Buendorf was assigned to the Secret Service's Chicago Field Office (1970–1972), Presidential Protective Division (1972–1977) and Denver Field Office (1977–1982). He was Special Agent in Charge, Omaha Field Office (1982–1983). Later, from 1983 to 1993, he was Special Agent in Charge of the Protective Division and, once again, assigned to protect President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. A woman in a red dress, who later was identified as Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, was seen following Ford while he was shaking hands. While Fromme pointed the gun at Ford, several people heard a "metallic click" sound. As the red-robed Fromme shouted, "It wouldn't go off", Buendorf grabbed the gun, forced it from Fromme's hand, and brought her to the ground.

For his role in preventing the assassination attempt on President Ford, Buendorf was awarded the U.S. Treasury Meritorious Service Award and the United States Secret Service Valor Award.

U.S. Olympic Committee Buendorf later became Chief Security Officer of the United States Olympic Committee in 1993 after retirement from the Secret Service. From the Olympic Committee headquarters in Colorado Springs, his office is able to monitor security images from other Olympic training sites in Lake Placid, New York, and Chula Vista, California, a suburb of San Diego.

Other achievements Buendorf was inducted into the Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame.

Acting credits Buendorf appeared on the television documentary film Inside the U.S. Secret Service in 2004.