In June 1956, evangelist Billy Graham brought his four-week crusade to the state fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
A story written by Religion Editor Ray Shaw on the front page of the June 4, 1956, Oklahoma City Times reported:
BILLY GRAHAM, who challenged the devil and the weather, preached to 15,239 persons on Sunday. Forty-five heard his plea and marched down the aisle.
According to Times estimates, Graham’s personal sermons attracted about 100,000 people a week. And in all, about 5,000 people surrendered their hearts to Christ during the month’s gatherings at the fairgrounds.
When the crusade concluded for its final evening on July 1 at Owen Field in Norman, about 40,000 followers turned out to hear Graham.
“You’ll never come to a football game here without remembering this scene,” Graham said from his pulpit.
University of Oklahoma football coaches Bud Wilkinson and Gomer Jones watched from the stadium press box, The Daily Oklahoman reported.
More than 1,300 people surrounded Graham at Owen Field toward the end of the evening service after heeding the evangelist’s call to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Billy Graham Crusade drew 100,000 weekly visitors to OKC in June 1956
