Dr. Billy Graham: Awards and Honors

Posted on

Back

“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” — John 12:43 (KJV)

Introduction and Research Note

Dr. Billy Graham (1918–2018) was one of the most internationally recognised evangelists of the twentieth century. Throughout his ministry, he received numerous awards, honorary degrees, civic honours, religious distinctions and expressions of public admiration.

This article documents the honours attributed to Graham, the organisations that presented them, and the public recognition he received throughout his career. It also provides a starting point for examining the theological implications of his religious associations and ecumenical activities.

Research note: Some awards are documented by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), awarding organisations, government records or contemporary reporting. Other entries require further primary-source verification. Where the original documentation has not been established, the claim should be treated as provisional rather than definitive.

Readers who possess original certificates, contemporary newspaper reports, official award citations or other reliable documentation concerning unverified entries are invited to contact the UK Apologetics Library at [email protected].

The purpose of this research is not to assume that receiving an award automatically proves theological compromise. Rather, it is to establish the historical record and examine relevant statements, associations and activities in the light of Scripture.

1. Major Polls and Media Recognition

Gallup Poll: Most Admired Men

Billy Graham appeared repeatedly in Gallup’s annual survey of the men most admired by Americans. According to Gallup’s 2018 obituary, he appeared on the list 61 times between 1955 and 2017, a record of sustained recognition.

Source: news.gallup.com

Research qualification: Earlier accounts sometimes give a total of 48 appearances and refer to 41 consecutive years. Those figures should not be presented as the final total. Furthermore, frequent inclusion on the list should not be confused with finishing in first place.

The poll documents public admiration; it does not establish the theological soundness of the person being admired.

Good Housekeeping: Most Admired Men

Graham has been credited with repeated appearances in Good Housekeeping magazine’s Most Admired Men polling, including a claim that he ranked first for five consecutive years and appeared in the top ten 16 times.

Source: samaritanspurse.org

Verification required: The original polling years, rankings and methodology should be established from contemporary magazine issues before these specific figures are treated as confirmed.

Marquis Who’s Who

Graham has been reported as appearing in Who’s Who in America from 1954 onwards.

Source: memorial.billygraham.org

Verification required: The original directory entries should be consulted to confirm the first year of inclusion and the duration of his listings.

2. Education and Academic Background

Bachelor of Theology (ThB)

Graham studied at Florida Bible Institute before continuing his education at Wheaton College.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

  • Institution: Wheaton College, Illinois
  • Year reported: 1943

Wheaton College was an important part of Graham’s educational and formative years.

Honorary Doctorates

Graham received numerous honorary degrees during his lifetime. Institutions associated with these honours include:

  • Houghton College, New York
  • Baylor University
  • The Citadel
  • William Jewell College

This list is not exhaustive. Individual institutions’ official records should be consulted when documenting the precise degree, date and wording of each award.

3. Career Milestones

The following chronology records major appointments and developments attributed to Graham’s ministry:

Table

YearMilestoneSource
1939Ordained to the ministry, according to biographical accountsBGEA
1943–1945Minister at First Baptist Church, Western Springs, IllinoisBGEA
1945–1950First Vice President of Youth for Christ InternationalBGEA
1947–1952President of Northwestern College, MinneapolisBGEA
1950Founded World Wide Pictures, Inc. (Burbank, CA) and established the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)BGEA
1950 onwardsAssociated with The Hour of Decision radio programme and periodic televised crusadesBGEA
1974Honorary Chairman of the Lausanne Congress on World EvangelizationBGEA

These milestones provide context for understanding how Graham’s ministry developed and how his public influence expanded. The programme’s precise launch date and subsequent broadcast history should be distinguished from the broader period of Graham’s involvement.

4. Chronological Index of Awards and Honors

The following list retains the awards and honours identified in the research material. Inclusion does not mean that every date, title, awarding body or accompanying description has been independently verified. Entries marked for further research should be checked against primary records before publication as definitive facts.

1955 – Bernard Baruch Award

Graham is reported to have received the Bernard Baruch Award in 1955.

Source: memorial.billygraham.org

1957 – Gold Medal Award

1960 – Humane Order of African Redemption

Graham is reported to have received the Humane Order of African Redemption, a Liberian honour.[Source: fr.wikipedia.org](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham)

1962 – Annual Gutenberg Award

1964 – Gold Award, George Washington Carver Memorial Institute

Graham is reported to have received a Gold Award from the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute for contributions to race relations. The award is described as having been presented by Senator Jacob Javits.

Source: billygraham.org.uk

1965 – Five Reported Awards

  1. Speaker of the Year Award – Organisation reported: Delta Sigma Rho–Tau Kappa Alpha, University of IndianaSource: newworldencyclopedia.org
  2. Golden Plate Award – Awarding organisation: American Academy of Achievement Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  3. Horatio Alger AwardSource: newworldencyclopedia.org
  4. National Citizenship Award – Organisation reported: Military Chaplains Association of the U.S.A. Source: billygraham.org.uk
  5. Wisdom Award of Honor – Organisations reported: Wisdom Magazine and the Wisdom Society Source: billygraham.org.uk

1966 – Big Brother of the Year Award

Graham is reported to have received the Big Brother of the Year Award for contributions to the welfare of children. The award is described as having been presented at the White House.

Source: memorial.billygraham.org

1969 – Three Reported Honours

  1. Torch of Liberty Plaque – Organisation: Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  2. George Washington Honor Medal – Organisation: Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge; sermon associated: “The Violent Society” Source: billygraham.org.uk
  3. Recognition from Morality in Media Source: billygraham.org.uk

1971 – International Brotherhood Award

1972 – Three Reported Awards

  1. Distinguished Service Award – Organisation: National Association of Broadcasters Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  2. Franciscan International Award – Date reported: 21 April 1972; reason reported: “His contribution to true ecumenism” Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  3. Sylvanus Thayer Award – Organisation: Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy at West Point Source: samaritanspurse.org

1974 – George Washington Medal Award for Patriotism

1975 – Three Reported Honours

  1. Direct Selling Association’s Salesman of the Decade Award Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  2. Liberty Bell Award Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  3. Man of the South Award Source: memorial.billygraham.org

1976 – Philip Award

1977 – Two Reported Honours

  1. First National Interreligious Award – Organisation: American Jewish Committee Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  2. Distinguished Communications Medal – Organisation reported: Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission Source: billygraham.org.uk

1980 – Jabotinsky Centennial Medal

1981 – Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame Award

Source: memorial.billygraham.org

1982 – Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion

1983 – Presidential Medal of Freedom

  • Presented by: President Ronald Reagan
  • Date: 23 February 1983 Source: newworldencyclopedia.org The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States’ highest civilian honour.

1986 – Two Reported Honours

  1. National Religious Broadcasters Award of Merit Source: memorial.billygraham.org
  2. North Carolina Award in Public Service – Often called the “Nobel Prize of North Carolina,” the state’s highest civilian honourSource: NC.gov

1989 – William Booth Award

1996 – Congressional Gold Medal

  • Legislation: Public Law 104-111
  • Presentation date: 2 May 1996
  • Recipients: Billy Graham and Ruth Graham Source: govinfo.gov PDF | BGEA Presented in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda by Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole for “outstanding and lasting contributions to morality, racial equality, family, philanthropy, and religion.”

1997 – Good Housekeeping Most Admired Men Poll

Source: samaritanspurse.org

1999 – Gospel Music Hall of Fame

2000 – Ronald Reagan Freedom Award

  • Organisation: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
  • Date: 5 April 2000 Source: reaganfoundation.org Recognised contributions to freedom and civic leadership.

2001 – Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

  • Honour: Honorary KBE – bestowed for international contributions to civic and religious life over six decades Source: The Telegraph

5. Additional Honours: Specific Years Unspecified

The following honours have been attributed to Graham, but precise years or supporting primary records have not been established:

6. Biblical Considerations: Human Recognition and Spiritual Discernment

The extensive list of honours attributed to Billy Graham demonstrates the breadth of his public recognition across religious, civic, educational, political and broadcasting circles.

Nevertheless, Scripture instructs Christians not to evaluate a teacher’s ministry simply by popularity, institutional recognition or public reputation.

Jesus said:

“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” – John 12:43 (KJV)

This verse appears in a passage about people who believed in Christ but refused to confess Him openly because they feared the consequences and valued human approval. It therefore offers a serious biblical warning about the danger of valuing human recognition over faithfulness to God.

Other relevant passages include:

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV)

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” – 1 John 4:1 (KJV)

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” – Isaiah 8:20 (KJV)

These passages establish the principle that Christian teaching must be tested against God’s Word. Neither widespread popularity nor recognition from prestigious institutions removes a religious teacher from that responsibility.

At the same time, receiving an honour does not, in itself, demonstrate that its recipient has abandoned biblical truth. Each relevant question must be examined through the evidence: What was the award for? What did the recipient teach? What activities or partnerships were involved? Were those teachings and activities consistent with the Gospel as revealed in Scripture?

In Graham’s case, a substantive theological critique should therefore distinguish his stated commitment to evangelism from the documented details of his interfaith relationships, ecumenical activities and public statements.

Conclusion

Billy Graham received, or has been reported to have received, an extensive range of awards and honours throughout his life. These included religious distinctions, civic awards, academic recognition, media accolades and honours from political institutions.

The list provides a historical starting point, not a verdict on his theology. The proper task of Christian apologetics is to establish the facts, examine the relevant teachings and associations, and measure them against Scripture rather than treating public admiration as proof of spiritual faithfulness.

The central question remains whether a preacher’s teaching and practice are faithful to the Word of God.

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” – 2 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)

Further research and corrections: If you have primary-source documentation for an award listed here, or evidence that clarifies an uncertain entry, please contact [email protected].

UK Apologetics Library – testing claims, examining religious movements and measuring teaching against the Scriptures.

Views: 3

Discover more from UK Apologetics Library

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.