For senior finance major Larry Ward, lightning really did strike twice.

As the 2003 Homecoming king, Ward, of Delta Tau Delta, proved the cliche wrong by winning titles on Homecoming court in both high school and college.

His royal reign began his sophomore year at Somonauk High School in Somonauk, and since coming to Eastern, he has also served as candidates for prince his sophomore year, and Greek Week king last year.

“It feels really good to represent my brothers,” he said of his current title.

For Ward, the lightning strike analogy is not just a cliche, but a teenage memory that has earned him the nickname “Lightning Larry.”

He actually was struck by lightning the day before his sixteenth birthday, while lifeguarding at a pool he now manages.

He recalls hearing a clap of thunder, and rushing to get all the kids off of a 40-foot metal spiral water slide. He succeeded in getting the kids to safety, but wasn’t so lucky himself.

“The only lightning bolt that struck Kane County hit me, ” he said.

His mother arrived at the scene before the ambulance and rushed him to the hospital unconscious. He proved to have no serious injuries, and the doctor told him, “You’re very lucky to be alive. Most people wouldn’t survive that.”

“Someone upstairs is looking out for me,” he said. “I pray every night.

“If lightning doesn’t stop me, nothing will.”

Ward said snow boarding, fishing, reading, baseball and hanging out with his friends are the activities he enjoys, along with “anything that can get a microphone in my hand,” such as singing or even public speaking.

Ward reflects on this year’s Homecoming theme of the ’80s as he remembers his haircut at age eight: “I used to have a rat- tail and a shark- tail (three shaved lines) on the side.”

As far was Eastern goes, his favorite thing about it is the way the campus is laid out.

“Eastern is it’s own little community apparatus,” he said.

His favorite building on campus is Old Main.

“The castle takes the cake, and I’m the King of the castle!”