GRAHAM, BILLY

born Nov. 7, 1918, Charlotte, N.C., U.S. byname of William Franklin Graham, Jr. American evangelist whose large-scale preaching tours, known as crusades, and friendship with numerous U.S. presidents brought him to international prominence. The son of a prosperous dairy farmer, Graham attended rural public schools. He professed his "decision for Christ" at a revival meeting at the age of 16 and subsequently attended Bob Jones College (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Florida Bible Institute (near Tampa), both unaccredited fundamentalist institutions. He began preaching in the Tampa area in 1938 and was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister a year later. Following graduation from Florida Bible Institute in 1940, he took a B.A. degree in anthropology from Wheaton (Illinois) College. Graham's reputation as an evangelist grew steadily during and immediately after World War II as a result of his radio broadcasts, tent revivals, and featured appearances at George W. Wilson's "Youth for Christ" rallies in the United States and Great Britain. By 1950 he was widely regarded as fundamentalism's chief spokesman. Through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association he published his sermons, the magazine Decision (from 1960), and numerous other works and conducted the widely filmed and televised international revival crusades that became his hallmark. First invited to the White House by Harry S. Truman in 1949, Graham later became a frequent guest of many succeeding presidents. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1996.