US News
Rev. Jerry Falwell Dies at 73
CBNNews.com
May 16, 2007
CBNNews.com -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority that became a powerful political force, died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 73.
Ron Godwin, Liberty University's executive vice president, said Falwell, 73, was found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and taken to Lynchburg General Hospital.
"CPR efforts were unsuccessful," he said. Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but said Falwell "has a history of heart challenges."
"I had breakfast with him, and he was fine at breakfast," he said. "He went to his office, I went to mine, and they found him unresponsive."
Falwell had survived two serious health issues in early 2005. He was hospitalized for two weeks with what was described as a viral infection. Then he was hospitalized again several days later after going into respiratory arrest.
In 2005, doctors found a 70 percent blockage in an artery, which they opened with stents.
Statement from Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and Chancellor of Regent University expressed his admiration for Falwell after receiving the news of his passing.
"My wife and I have sent our condolences to Macel Falwell and her family," he said in a released statement. "Jerry has been a tower of strength on many of the moral issues which have confronted our nation. Liberty University is a magnificent accomplishment and will prove a lasting legacy. Jerry's courage and strength of convictions will be sadly missed in this time of moral relativism. I join with the tens of thousand of his friends to mourn the passing of this extraordinary human being."
Statement from Billy Graham
Evangelist Billy Graham, known for his worldwide crusades, also expressed condolences on the death of his friend.
"Jerry Falwell was a close personal friend for many years. We did not always agree on everything, but I knew him to be a man of God. His accomplishments went beyond most clergy of his generation. Some of my grandchildren have attended, and are attending, Liberty University. He leaves a gigantic vacuum in the evangelical world. I am praying for his family, and especially the university that he headed."
Moral Majority Founder
Falwell gave credit to his Moral Majority for getting millions of conservative voters registered and active at the polls, electing Ronald Reagan and giving Republicans Senate control in 1980.
"I shudder to think where the country would be right now if the religious right had not evolved," Falwell said when he stepped down as Moral Majority president in 1987.
Falwell started an independent Baptist church in an abandoned bottling plant in 1956 with 35 members. His church is now known as the the 22,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church.
From his living room, he began broadcasting his message of salvation and raising the donations that helped his ministry grow. The "Old Time Gospel Hour" is still carried by television stations around the country.
He also built Christian elementary schools, homes for unwed mothers and a home for alcoholics.
Liberty University
Falwell founded Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., which began as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971. It currently has a student enrollment of 7,700.
Liberty's commencement is scheduled for Saturday, with former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich as the featured speaker. CBN News spoke with a representative at the school who said activities for graduation will continue as planned. Click here to see the schedule.
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