Larry Mullen (1991) - Hall of Fame - Murray State University Athletics

Larry Mullen

Induction:
1991

Larry Mullen – Golf, 1963-1964, 1966-1967

Before making a name for himself as a leader with the Professional Golfers’ Association, Larry Mullen was a two-time First Team All-American at Murray State.

Named team captain as a senior, Mullen is one of only two Murray State golfers to ever attain two First Team All-America honors, selected in 1964 and 1967. He was a part of the only two MSU teams to ever compete in NCAA Championship play and was Murray’s best finisher on both occasions.

In 1964, Mullen was seventh individually at the NCAA College Division Tournament, shooting a 219 as Murray finished fifth at Springfield, Mo. In 1967, Mullen helped Murray to its best-ever second-place NCAA finish, as he shot a 287 on his home course of Paxton Park in Paducah, good enough for fifth individually.

A former Kentucky all-star junior golfer, Mullen won six regional tournaments in Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois. Mullen continued his association with golf after leaving MSU, joining the PGA tour in 1968. He later served on the national board of directors of PGA of America, and was once the youngest pro to be elected president of a PGA section, serving as president of the New Jersey PGA.

“I’m very proud of being associated with Larry Mullen,” MSU golf coach Raymond T. “Buddy” Hewitt said. “I don’t think there has been anybody that I’ve coached that has worked any harder to get where he wanted to be.

“His dedication to his academics and his golf success certainly puts him in a category of his own.”

Mullen currently serves as head professional at the Country Club of Paducah, Ky. (MSU Sports Information)

“I’m very excited and very proud,” Mullen said. “This is the highlight of my professional career.”

His college coach, Buddy Hewitt, talked of Mullen’s ability to excel in everything he did. Mullen was also student government president.

“Larry Mullen is a man who set goals for himself, and always attained those goals,” Hewitt said. (The Murray Ledger & Times, October 11, 1991, By David Ramey)