Asheville – This past Thursday, the late Rev. Billy Graham was immortalized with the unveiling of a seven-foot bronze statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection. This statue was installed in the Crypt—one level below the Rotunda where every public tour of the U.S. Capitol begins. In 2018 a national search began for a sculptor. Chas Fagan, a North Carolinian artist who had sculpted Ronald Reagan’s statue, was selected.
Speaker Johnson called Thursday “a truly historic moment” as the well-known evangelist Billy Graham joined Rosa Parks, President Ford, and President Reagan to be the only people to receive the three highest honors from Congress: the Congressional Gold Medal (1996), to have lain in honor or state in the Capitol (2018), and to have a statue in the Statuary Hall Collection (2024). This is an amazing tribute to the man.
Like many others in his family, Franklin Graham is also an evangelist. He said, “ My father would be a little uncomfortable with this being here because he would want the focus to be on the One that he preached,” Graham said. “He would want the focus to be on the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God.”Graham’s statue features a plaque at the base with the words “Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” and the pedestal is engraved with two Bible verses: John 3:16 and John 14:6. It was created by Charlotte-based artist Chas Fagan and depicts Graham pointing to an open Bible. Reverend Graham replaced Governor Charles Aycock in the U.S. Capitol on behalf of North Carolina.
The Graham family is well known with many friends here in the Asheville area. Many remember them well, having seen the Reverend himself, on various occasions, perhaps visiting friends, on the golf course, walking down a street in Asheville, or even at the hospital in their later years. The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, a 1,200-acre property, is a Christian refuge for many, offering retreats with accommodations and meals, available seminars, programs, ministry events, and conferences. The ministry continues today in this area, as many of his family participate.
Evangelist Billy Graham was a tall, striking man known for his commanding presence in the pulpit. He had a powerful voice and reached multitudes globally with his message. Graham targeted non-Christians in his crusades to share the Good News of Jesus. He passed away at 99 in 2018 and was buried in Charlotte. A 7-foot statue of him was unveiled in Washington, D.C., with Speaker Johnson calling it historic. Graham is one of four individuals honored by Congress with the three highest tributes: the Congressional Gold Medal (1996), laying in honor in the Capitol (2018), and having a statue in the Statuary Hall Collection (2024).
Graham’s statue features a plaque at the base with the words “Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” and the pedestal is engraved with two Bible verses: John 3:16 and John 14:6. It was created by Charlotte-based artist Chas Fagan and depicts Graham pointing to an open Bible. Reverend Graham replaced Governor Charles Aycock in the U.S. Capitol on behalf of North Carolina.
The Graham family is well known here in the Asheville area. His friends remember the family well, having seen Rev. Graham himself and his wife Ruth on various occasions, perhaps visiting their homes, walking down the street of Asheville, playing golf, or near the end of their lives at hospitals. He was a friend of Glenn Wilcox. Bob Morgan was often mistaken for him, as they looked so much alike. The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, a 1,200-acre property, is a Christian refuge for many visitors of various denominations.
The evangelist, Billy Graham, was a tall, striking man with thick, swept-back hair, stark blue eyes, and a firm jaw. He had a commanding presence in the pulpit, with a powerful baritone voice. According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Graham preached to 215 million people across six continents and provided counsel to 12 American presidents in his lifetime. His crusades targeted non-Christians, wanting them to reach them with the Good News of Jesus. Rev. Billy Graham died at the age of 99 in his home in Montreat. His last public appearance was in 2013 at a gala event to mark his 95th birthday, held at the Grove Park Inn and attended by dignitaries including then-businessman Donald Trump.
Many spoke at the U.S. Capitol Building for this unveiling including NC Govenor Roy Cooper, NC Senator Thom Tillis, NC Senator Budd, and Congressman Chuck Edwards. All offered statements and quotes of their remembrances of the beloved North Carolinian Reverend Billy Graham.