Born: November 7, 1918
Place of Birth: Charlotte, North Carolina
Major Notes:
Billy Graham has earned a reputation as the "Preacher to the Presidents."
Eldest of four children, Graham and the family attended church on a regular basis.
Graham's father was a local farmer and business man and growing up was relatively hard as it was the time of the Depression.
Mordecai Ham, a traveling evangelist who used revival meetings, made an impression on the young 16 year old boy.
After high school, Billy Graham enrolled at the Bob Jones Bible College.
Not satisfied with his program, he changed over to the Florida Bible Institute in Tampa.
In 1939, Billy Graham became an ordained minister and continued his studies at Wheaton College in Illinois.
It was here he also met and married Ruth McCue Bell, the daughter of missionary parents.
Graham joined the Youth for Christ movement and preached in United States and Europe which furthered his career as an evangelist.
His 1949 Los Angeles crusade was a sign of what was to come as it had to be extended from three to eight weeks.
The media and people of all ages were very much impressed with the young evangelist.
His evangelist work required forming the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to plan tours, now world-wide.
He also began broadcasting a new radio program called "The Hour of Decision".
BGEA implemented projects eventually involving radio, television, movies, magazines, and major tours.
It's impact led to Graham becoming the most well-known of popular evangelists.
In addition, Graham was gaining the respect of the nation including US presidents.
In 1980, Graham opened the Billy Graham Center on the campus of Wheaton College.
Billy Graham has received numerous degrees, awards, and honors including being named many times by Gallup polls as one of the "Ten Most Admired People in the World."
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