BILLY GRAHAM BIO

Billy Graham

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For other people of the same name, see Bill Graham.

Billy Graham

Billy Graham in 2008.

Born

William Franklin Graham, Jr.
November 7, 1918 (age 94)
Charlotte, North Carolina

Nationality

American

Education

Diploma in Biblical Studies, Florida Bible Institute (Trinity Bible College), 1940
B.A. in Anthropology, Wheaton College, 1943

Occupation

Evangelist

Religion

Evangelical Christian

Spouse(s)

Ruth Graham
(m. 1943–2007; her death)

Children

Franklin,
Nelson,
Virginia,
Anne
Ruth

Signature

Ordained

Southern Baptist[1]

Offices held

President, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Title

Doctor (Honorary)

Website

http://www.billygraham.org

William Franklin “Billy” Graham, Jr. (born November 7, 1918) is an American Christian evangelist, ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, who rose to celebrity status in 1949 with the national media backing of William Randolph Hearst and Henry Luce. His sermons were broadcast on radio and television, some still being re-broadcast today.[not verified in body]

Graham is notable for having been a spiritual adviser to several United States Presidents; he was particularly close to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon.[2] During the civil rights movement, he began to support integrated seating for his revivals and crusades; in 1957 he invited the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City, where they appeared together at Madison Square Garden, and bailed the minister out of jail in the 1960s when he was arrested in demonstrations.[citation needed]

Graham operates a variety of media and publishing outlets.[3] According to his staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. As of 2008, Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.[3]

Graham has repeatedly been on Gallup’s list of most admired men and women. He has appeared on the list 55 times since 1955 (including 49 consecutive years), more than any other individual in the world.[4]

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