Billy Graham and CIU: A Key Historic Relationship

Billy Graham and CIU: A Key Historic Relationship

CIU's first president R.C. McQuilkin

In February 1950, evangelist Billy Graham was at the height of his ministry. America’s eyes were focused on the young, fiery preacher as he traveled coast to coast preaching the gospel at packed out auditoriums and sports facilities. One of his stops that year was Columbia, S.C., home of Columbia Bible College, now Columbia International University. But as Graham laid the groundwork for his Columbia crusade that February, he called on a good friend and associate to help him make the event a success: CIU’s first president Robert “R.C.” McQuilkin.

A new article published online by amateur historian Cliff Davids of Atlanta looks back on the 63rd anniversary of the Columbia crusade through an exchange of letters between Graham and McQuilkin. Read the article, “Walking the Sawdust Trail – the Burden of the 1950 Billy Graham Crusade” at Cliff Davids’ website:https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/02/10/billy-graham/