Larry Buendorf

Larry Buendorf
Buendorf in foreground with sunglasses protecting Ford 5 September 1975
Born	(1937-11-18) November 18, 1937 (age 79) Wells, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater	Minnesota State University, Mankato, B.S. 1959
Occupation	Chief Security Officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, former Secret Service special agent

Larry Buendorf (born November 18, 1937) is the Chief Security Officer of the United States Olympic Committee. He is a former United States Navy aviator and Secret Service agent. He is best known for his successful intervention during an assassination attempt on then United States President Gerald Ford in 1975.

Buendorf was born November 18, 1937, in Wells, Minnesota, son of Ruby and Merle Buendorf. Buendorf 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, he joined the Secret Service in 1970, where he was employed for 22 years.

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 1983–1993, he was Special Agent in Charge of the Protective Division and, once again, assigned to protect President Gerald Ford and Mrs. Ford.

On September 5, 1975, President Gerald Ford, who had just given a speech at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, walked across a park where a crowd had gathered. A woman in a red dress, who later was identified as Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, was seen following Ford while he was shaking hands. Upon seeing a Colt M1911 pistol, Secret Service Special Agent Larry Buendorf stepped in front of Ford. Buendorf yelled "Gun!", alerting the other agents who evacuated Ford. He pulled the gun away and wrestled the woman to the ground, in the process slightly injuring his thumb and hand while placing the webbing of his thumb between the gun's cocked hammer and the slide of the pistol.