Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Larry Lundeen arrived at Southern Arkansas in the fall of 1985 after stints at Illinois State, Blackhawk (Ill.) Community College, and Illinois Central Community College.  In 1986, the Muleriders finished with a 36-12 record and won the AIC championship.  Lundeen, a southpaw from Washington, Ill., suffered an elbow injury during his junior year that season, but still posted an 8-2 record, walked only 31 in 81 2/3 innings, struck out a team-high 54, and was an AIC All-Star.
           
As a senior in 1987, Lundeen helped lead the Muleriders to their best record in school history (46-7), with SAU finishing third in the NAIA World Series.  Lundeen won 14 games that season, a school record that still stands today, and closed his final SAU season at 14-2.  His 12 consecutive wins during that season were one short of tying the national collegiate record of 13 straight wins.  He was named First Team NAIA All-America, First Team NAIA Area V, First Team All-NAIA District 17, and First Team All-AIC with the Muleriders, who again won the conference title with a 25-1 record.
           
Lundeen ended his two-year SAU career with a 22-4 record, striking out 126.  A teammate with Bob Block, they remain the only two first team All-America selections in the history of the storied SAU baseball program, playing under the guidance of legendary coach Steve Goodheart.
           
A 6-3, 190-pounder, Lundeen played in the National Baseball Congress World Series in the summer of 1987, winning both the Most Valuable Player and Pitcher awards, the same honor won by the likes of Roger Clemens.  In 1988, he signed a free agent contract with the Boise (Idaho) Hawks of the Class A Northwest League, the first player signed by the independent Hawks.  He also pitched for the Red Oak (Iowa) Red Sox.
           
Lundeen was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award at SAU in 1997.  He went on to a career as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service from 1996-2002, serving on the Vice-President’s protective detail in his final year.  Lundeen was with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., from 2002-07, serving as Director of Corporate Services-Global Security his final two years.  He currently serves as Assistant Federal Security Director for the Department of Homeland Security-Transportation Security Administration at Northwest Regional airport.

Larry and his wife, the former Jennifer Holyfield of Camden, reside in Bentonville, and have a daughter, Caroline.