Billy Graham Biography

WILLIAM (BILLY) F. GRAHAM, Jr.    

Evangelist, Chairman of the Board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

BORN:       
Nov. 7, 1918
Charlotte, N.C.

PARENTS:       
William Franklin (deceased 1962) and Morrow Coffey Graham (deceased 1981)

MARRIED:       
Ruth McCue Bell, 1943

EDUCATION:       
1943             B.A., Wheaton College-Wheaton, Ill.
1940             Graduated, Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College)

VOCATION:         
1950            Founder, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
1950            Began weekly "Hour of Decision" radio program which is heard on more than 600 stations around the world
1947-52    President, Northwestern Schools, consisting of three collegiate institutions: liberal arts college, Bible school, and theological seminary
1945-50        Charter Vice President, Youth for Christ International, Chicago
1943-45        Pastor, First Baptist Church-Western Springs, Ill.   
1939            Ordained to the ministry by a church in the Southern Baptist Convention

OUTREACH:       

• Preaching-Billy Graham has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to more than 210 million people in live audiences at hundreds of crusades (417), missions, and evangelistic rallies, including Mission World and Global Mission, in North America and around the world
• Television Ministry-regular prime time broadcasts, begun in 1957, that reach several million households in virtually every market across the United States and Canada
• Presidential-Spiritual counsel and prayer with every American President from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush; participated in more presidential inaugurals than anyone in history (8), with the exception of a Supreme Court Justice in the 1800s.

               
PUBLISHED:       
26 books (1947-2006)-SEE COMPLETE LIST
"My Answer" (since 1952)-syndicated column carried by newspapers throughout the United States with a combined circulation of five million     


SELECT AWARDS AND HONORS:

• The following is a partial list of the numerous awards and honors received by Mr. Graham:
• Gallup's "Ten Most Admired Men in the World" since 1955. Mr. Graham has been chosen for this list a total of 50 times (more than any other individual in the world), including 43 consecutive years.
• Congressional Gold Medal, 1996, the highest honor Congress can bestow on a private citizen
• Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1983, the nation's highest civilian award
• Honorary Knight Commander of the order of the British Empire (KBE), 2001, for his international contribution to civic and religious life over 60 years
• Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award, 2000, for monumental contributions to the cause of freedom
• The Torch of Liberty Plaque by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1969
• West Point Sylvanus Thayer Award, 1972, to an outstanding U.S. citizen who exemplifies the ideals expressed in the West Point motto, "Duty, Honor, Country"
• The 1,900th star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, 1989-the first clergyman to be so honored for radio, television, and preaching ministry
• Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association, 1999, the first non-musician to be inducted
• Good Housekeeping Most Admired Men Poll, 16 times in the top 10, No. 1 for five years in a row
• George Washington Medal Award for Patriotism, 1974, from Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge
• International Brotherhood Award, 1971, from the National Conference of Christians and Jews
• Horatio Alger Award, 1965, honors the accomplishments of individuals who have succeeded in the face of adversity

CHILDREN:       
Virginia, 1945
Anne Morrow, 1948
Ruth Bell, 1950
William Franklin, III, 1952
Nelson Edman, 1958
19 Grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren

RESIDENCE:       
In the mountains of North Carolina

WRITINGS BY REV. BILLY GRAHAM:   

2006        The Journey:  How to Live by Faith in an Uncertain World (W Publishing Group)
2002    Hope for Each Day (J. Countryman)
1997    Just As I Am (Harper Collins)
1992Storm Warning (W Publishing)
1991Hope for the Troubled Heart (Word Publishing)
1988Answers to Life's Problems (Word Publishing)
1987    Facing Death and the Life After (Word Publishing)  Christian Booksellers Association Best-Seller List
1986Unto the Hills (Word Publishing)   
1984    A Biblical Standard for Evangelists (World Wide Publications)
1983    Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Word Publishing) - The New York Times Best-Seller List; ECPA Gold Book Award
1981    Till Armageddon (Word Publishing) - ECPA Platinum Book Award
1978    The Holy Spirit (Word Publishing) - ECPA Gold Book Award
1977How to Be Born Again (W Publishing Group)
Angels:  God's Secret Agents (Guideposts Associates) Publishers Weekly & The New York Times Best-Seller Lists; Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Platinum Book Award
1971    The Jesus Generation (World Wide Publications)
1969    The Challenge (Doubleday & Co.)
1965    World Aflame (Doubleday & Co.) - The New York Times and Time magazine Best-Seller Lists
1960    Billy Graham Answers Your Questions (World Wide Publications)
1960    My Answer (Doubleday & Co.)
1958    Billy Graham Talks to Teenagers (Zondervan)
1955    The Secret of Happiness (Doubleday & Co.)
1955    Freedom from the Seven Deadly Sins (Zondervan)
1953    Peace with God (Doubleday & Co.)-over 2 million copies sold in 38 languages, revised and expanded in 1984
1953    I Saw Your Sons at War (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
1952    Author of syndicated newspaper column My Answer carried by newspapers across the country with a combined circulation of five million readers
1947    Calling Youth to Christ (Zondervan)