Billy Graham, 40 Pro Footballers, a Crusade for Christ and a Groovy Look Back at Dallas in '72

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Nov. 30 2011 at 6:19 PM

Shortly before word began circulating that the immortal Billy Graham has been hospitalized for the second time this year due to pneumonia, Athletes in Action posted to Vimeo the extraordinary artifact you see above: Graham teasing Explo '72, which Time called The Jesus Woodstock, that brought some 80,000 Campus Crusaders for Christ to Dallas for two weeks in June of that year. Graham was here, of course -- regardless of your religious affiliation, it was an epic moment in the city's history.

But shortly before the weeks-long wingding, there was a prelude of sorts when some 40 pro football players came to Dallas "for the same kind of training that will be given at Explo '72," per the narrator of the mini-doc above that shows the AIA's doings in Dallas during the days leading up to the revival. This has something for everyone, including nostalgists who want to see the city as it was 40 years ago (back when the Adolphus had a sign and the Statler was open for business) and sports fans eager for glimpses of Norm Evans and Lem Barney and other old-school ballers.

Also, I think it's time the city returns to its '70s slogan, "Dallas: The Time of Your Life City."

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Ron

Is this Billy Graham, or Kelsey Grammer doing a bit?

Don Abbott

Boy, have we made progress...the same five families control everything; rich bubbleites buy votes in South Dallas; the Morning News is a terrible newspaper; City Hall is a training center for future felons...you get the picture. Add 40 years of potholes and, voila, you're back in 2011.

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