As a 5-foot-10, 165 pound outfielder, Rod was not heavily recruited when he came out of High School at Cissna Park, Illinois. He turned down a few chances to play college baseball in the north but came to Union as a walk-on his freshman year for what he termed, "a place where he had friends, warm weather and a strong baseball schedule."
His walk-on status changed quickly to scholarship status after an outstanding freshman season where he hit .412. He followed that season with averages of .345, .379 and .431 giving him the second highest batting average for a career at .388. He was the career leader in stolen bases in a season (31), career stolen bases (76), singles (65) and runs scored (68) and also set the mark for consecutive steals in 1984 with 26.
In his senior season he hit nine home runs, delivered seven game-winning hits and made just one error. He was named the District 24 Most Valuable Player and was runner-up for Area 5 Player of the Year. He became the first Union player to be named to the first team NAIA All-American Baseball Squad. He was also named the team's Most Valuable Player and served as co-captain of the squad.
"This is a true success story," said Union Coach Linn Stranak in a Jackson Sun story about Rod at the end of his senior season. "With lots of hard work, he just kept getting better and better. A person like Rod comes along once in a lifetime."
Rod is presently the Vice President, Information Technology-AIG/American General in Brentwood, Tennessee. He and his wife Robyn Agee Hari (86) have two daughters Savannah and Madison.
