A former television anchor and journalism educator is the author of a new edition of a book about Billy Graham and Billy Sunday.
The 2008 edition of “The Billy Pulpits,” by Dick Jensen, was released in advance of Graham’s 90th birthday on Nov. 7. The 218-page paperback, which included 25 pages of photographs, compares and contrasts the careers of evangelists Graham and Sunday. It was published by First Foundations Inc.
An exclusive feature of “The Billy Pulpits” is a complete listing of the places and dates of every Billy Graham crusade for the last 60 years. A similar listing of Billy Sunday’s campaigns is also featured.
William A. “Billy” Sunday, a professional baseball player-turned-preacher, was America’s most prominent pulpiteer in the first half of the 20th century. William F. “Billy” Graham Jr. held that distinction for the second half of the century. Jensen’s book examines the links between the two men and how their careers were alike and dissimilar.
The Jensen book is based on more than four decades of research and personal experience, including six years as a member of Billy Graham’s “team.” Jensen was manager of the Graham radio station in North Carolina (WMIT). He also served as a Graham press secretary before becoming a TV reporter/anchor for channels 4 and 7 in South Carolina. He retired from the faculty of North Greenville University, where he taught journalism.
First Foundations Inc. is a nonprofit publisher (www.firstfound.us). Ingles Markets Inc. is distributing the book through its network of stores in five states. It is also available at The Open Book in Greenville.
Jensen may be contacted by e-mail at ffi113@bellsouth.net.