Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame
ARTHUR STRUNK
Arthur A. Strunk wrestled at Hofstra from 1948 through 1952 under the direction of Coach Walter “Brick” Stone. Art was undefeated in intercollegiate dual match competition with a record of 36 wins and two draws. During his four years, his only losses came in tournament competition and an invitational match with the NYAC in 1951.
Art was conference champion in 1952 after winning the 145-pound Individual Interstate Intercollegiate Invitational (4I) Tournament title. A NCAA Championship qualifier that year, he was also the Metropolitan New York and New York State AAU champion in 1951. Art was champion at the 1952 New York Metropolitan Area District Olympic Tryouts where he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Art then competed in the 1952 U.S. Olympic Trials, but he did not qualify for the Olympic team. His overall record in his four years at Hofstra (including AAU and Olympic Trial competition) was 72 wins, 13 losses and two ties.
Art graduated in 1952 with a degree in marketing. A member of the U.S. Naval Reserve while at Hofstra, Art went to Officer Candidate School and after being commissioned went on active duty. He subsequently augmented into the regular Navy. During his time in the Navy, Art served on six ships and several major staffs. His most notable assignments were as commanding officer of USS Brister, a destroyer escort and USS Hank, a destroyer. He served on the staff of the Commander in Chief Pacific Command during the Vietnam War, and his final assignment was in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. During his tour of duty in the Pentagon, Art earned a master’s degree in computer systems management from George Washington University in 1973. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his performance on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and retired in 1974 with the rank of Captain.
Returning to Long Island, Art served more than five years as vice president of operations during the start-up of Nassau OTB. After leaving Nassau OTB, Art was in the private sector until he joined the faculty at Queensborough Community College where he originated the first in the nation microcomputer course specifically designed for accounting majors and co-authored a computer lab textbook.
While living on Long Island, Art was a very active alumnus. He was a member of the Fifty for Hofstra Club and served as its president for two years. He was also a member and director of the Hofstra Alumni Organization, chaired the committee to form Epsilon Sigma Alumni and served as the group’s first president. In 1979 Art was elected Alumni Senator of the Year. He is also a past recipient of the University’s George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award and the Alumni Achievement Award.
Following his retirement from Queensborough in 1992, Art and his wife, Jeannette, moved to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, where they were very active in local church and community organizations until moving to Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2003. Art is a director and president of his condominium and also serves on the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of the Peaks.
