Graham's early ministry took hold in Chicago area became a megaphone in Wheaton
Billy Graham
As Americans mourned the death of  the Rev. Billy Graham  on Wednesday  most remembered  him  as a pastor with the ability to lead thousands to Jesus  take presidents under his wing and console a nation after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But it was in the suburbs of Chicago where  he  learned how to amplify  his  voice as a preacher.
It didnât take long for  Graham  and the congregation of Western Springs Baptist Church   his  first pulpit after graduation from Wheaton College  to conclude  he  was better suited to preach in stadiums than sanctuaries.
âThis is where  he  got a taste of glory  a taste of fame and the gratification that comes from speaking to huge crowds â said Grant Wacker  author of âAmericaâs Pastor:  Billy Graham  and the Shaping of a Nation â a biography of the national icon. âAnd  he  got the response  he  was looking for.â
Indeed   Graham âs first revivals and rallies in downtown Chicagoâs Orchestra Hall and Soldier Field â forerunners to  his  later international crusades â launched the evangelist into the spotlight for decades to come and steered legions of people to church.  His  pioneering use of mass media including radio  television  magazines and motion pictures only broadened  his  reach.
 Graham  died Wednesday at 99 at  his  home in Montreat  N.C. Wheatonâs president  the Rev. Philip Ryken  said commemorating  Graham âs significant contributions to Christian ministry for the many generations born after  his  heyday would remain a long-term commitment of the flagship evangelical institution.
âI think  Billy Graham  will be regarded as one of the greatest Christian leaders of the 20th century â Ryken said  âand that legacy will last a very long time. â
Graham  a native of North Carolina   was already an ordained Southern Baptist pastor and graduate of Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida) when  he  sought a liberal arts education and bachelorâs degree at west suburban Wheaton College in 1940.
 Chicago Tribune historical photo Evangelist Billy Graham  class of 1943   speaks at the commencement exercises at Wheaton College on June 11  1951.  Evangelist Billy Graham  class of 1943   speaks at the commencement exercises at Wheaton College on June 11  1951. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
After hearing the 21-year-old Graham preach in Florida  two members of the Wheaton College board  including the brother of its incoming president  hired  Graham  as their caddy on a golf course and offered to pay  his  first year of tuition if  he  attended the college.
 He  studied anthropology  which some say expanded  his  horizons beyond the biblical theology training  he  already had received.
âIt did make  him  aware in new ways of how societies work  how cultural values are shaped  things  he  could draw upon  especially as  he  traveled the world â said Edith Blumhofer  a professor of history at Wheaton College.
But even more important than the college curriculum were the people  he  met and walked alongside for decades to come  she said  including  his  future wife  Ruth Bell  a fellow student and daughter of Presbyterian missionaries.
It wasnât until 1941  that  Graham   then a 23-year-old college sophomore  took his place before a congregation. The Wheaton College president at the time  V. Raymond Edman  recommended that Graham replace him in the pulpit of Wheatonâs United Gospel Tabernacle.
âIt was where he acquired managerial skills for inspiring and leading organizations and expressing his ministry  not only by preaching but through other people â said  Robert Shuster  who oversees the Billy Graham Center Archives  housed at Wheaton.
âHe was not preaching what a pastor would normally preach to a church audience â said one of Grahamâs former classmates  the late Glyn Evans  in an interview with  Shuster  for the archive several years ago.
As Americans mourned the death of  [TGT] on Wednesday  most remembered   [TGT]   as a pastor with the ability to lead thousands to Jesus  take presidents under his wing and console a nation after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But it was in the suburbs of Chicago where   [TGT]   learned how to amplify   [TGT]   voice as a preacher.
It didnât take long for   [TGT] and the congregation of Western Springs Baptist Church    [TGT]   first pulpit after graduation from Wheaton College  to conclude   [TGT]   was better suited to preach in stadiums than sanctuaries.
âThis is where   [TGT]   got a taste of glory  a taste of fame and the gratification that comes from speaking to huge crowds â said Grant Wacker  author of âAmericaâs Pastor:   [TGT] and the Shaping of a Nation â a biography of the national icon. âAnd  he  got the response  he  was looking for.â
Indeed    [TGT]  âs first revivals and rallies in downtown Chicagoâs Orchestra Hall and Soldier Field â forerunners to  his  later international crusades â launched the evangelist into the spotlight for decades to come and steered legions of people to church.  His  pioneering use of mass media including radio  television  magazines and motion pictures only broadened  his  reach.
  [TGT] died Wednesday at 99 at   [TGT]   home in Montreat  N.C. Wheatonâs president  the Rev. Philip Ryken  said commemorating   [TGT]  âs significant contributions to Christian ministry for the many generations born after  his  heyday would remain a long-term commitment of the flagship evangelical institution.
âI think   [TGT] will be regarded as one of the greatest Christian leaders of the 20th century â Ryken said  âand that legacy will last a very long time. â
 [TGT] a native of North Carolina   was already an ordained Southern Baptist pastor and graduate of Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida) when   [TGT]   sought a liberal arts education and bachelorâs degree at west suburban Wheaton College in 1940.
  [TGT] speaks at the commencement exercises at Wheaton College on June 11  1951.   [TGT] speaks at the commencement exercises at Wheaton College on June 11  1951. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
After hearing the 21-year-old Graham preach in Florida  two members of the Wheaton College board  including the brother of its incoming president  hired   [TGT] as their caddy on a golf course and offered to pay   [TGT]   first year of tuition if   [TGT]   attended the college.
  [TGT]   studied anthropology  which some say expanded   [TGT]   horizons beyond the biblical theology training   [TGT]   already had received.
âIt did make   [TGT]   aware in new ways of how societies work  how cultural values are shaped  things   [TGT]   could draw upon  especially as   [TGT]   traveled the world â said Edith Blumhofer  a professor of history at Wheaton College.
But even more important than the college curriculum were the people   [TGT]   met and walked alongside for decades to come  she said  including   [TGT]   future wife  Ruth Bell  a fellow student and daughter of Presbyterian missionaries.
It wasnât until 1941  that  Graham   then a 23-year-old college sophomore  took his place before a congregation. The Wheaton College president at the time  V. Raymond Edman  recommended that Graham replace him in the pulpit of Wheatonâs United Gospel Tabernacle.
âIt was where he acquired managerial skills for inspiring and leading organizations and expressing his ministry  not only by preaching but through other people â said  Robert Shuster  who oversees the Billy Graham Center Archives  housed at Wheaton.
âHe was not preaching what a pastor would normally preach to a church audience â said one of Grahamâs former classmates  the late Glyn Evans  in an interview with  Shuster  for the archive several years ago.