Billy Graham’s 100th Year
By Dr. Mark Denison
On November 7, Billy Graham celebrated his 99th birthday. As he enters his 100th year of life, this seems like a good time to look back at his amazing achievements. Dr. Graham has been recognized as “America’s Pastor” and the “Pastor to the Presidents,” as he has been a spiritual advisor for the following presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama – an incredible 12 presidents, more than ¼ of all U.S. presidents in history. More importantly, Graham has reached tens of millions with the Gospel, around the world, beginning with small rallies, then huge tent meetings, followed by a media presence on every continent.
So let’s look back at the life of William Franklin Graham, Jr. This is a timeline of his incomparable life.
Personal
Birth date: November 7, 1918
Birth place: Charlotte, North Carolina
Birth name: William Franklin Graham, Jr.
Father: William Franklin Graham, Sr. (dairy farmer)
Mother: Morrow (Coffey) Graham
Marriage: Ruth (Bell) Graham (August 13, 1943 – June 14, 2007)
Children: Virginia, Anne, Ruth, Franklin, Nelson
Education: Florida Bible Institute and Wheaton College (B.A., 1943)
Religion: Baptist
Other Facts
Grew up on dairy farm near Charlotte
Listed by Gallup as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World” over 50 times
Has met with every president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama
Preached to over 215 million people in more than 185 countries
Timeline
1918 – Birth
1934 – Graham receives Christ as Savior, at evangelistic meeting in Charlotte.
1938 – Graham is baptized in Silver Lake, Florida.
1939 – He is ordained by a Southern Baptist church.
1943 – For two years he took over a Chicago radio program, “Songs in the Night.”
1944 – Graham began preaching for Youth for Christ.
1949 – He held the famous Los Angeles Crusade, scheduled for three weeks, running for seven.
1950 – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is founded.
1950 – Weekly radio program “The Hour of Decision” begins. It still runs today.
1952 – A daily advice column is launched in newspapers, “My Answer.”
1954 – London Crusade draws huge crowds, lasts 12 weeks.
1957 – Madison Square Garden Crusade runs 16 weeks and is covered by national press.
1981 – Graham is inducted into the Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
1983 – He is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
1986 – Graham receives National Religious Award of Merit.
1996 – Congressional Gold Medal is awarded.
1999 – Graham becomes first non-musician inducted to Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
2000 – He wins the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award.
2001 – Graham is named an honorary knight.
2005 – Graham hold final Crusade, at Flushing Meadow in New York, drawing 230,000 people.
2007 – Billy Graham Library and Museum are dedicated
2007 – Ruth Bell Graham dies; they were married for nearly 64 years.
2017 – Graham celebrates 99th birthday.