With the passing of Reverend Billy Graham at the age of 99, News 5 went looking back in our archives for his visits to Cleveland.
Graham's crusades were an event and as such, much sought after.
According to our archives, Cleveland pursued Graham for years. In 1972, Graham decided the time was right for a crusade at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
Watch the video player above to see the clips from our archives as described in the following order.
Our video clips begin just a couple days before the July 1972 crusade when Graham made a visit to our studios at E. 30th and Euclid. He met with two broadcasting legends here at News 5, newscaster and commentator Dorothy Fuldheim and the original host of the Morning Exchange, Alan Douglas.
Next in our vault, we found Graham talking about why Cleveland was included in his crusade, and found commentary from those he preached to.
Remembering Billy Graham: A timeline of the evangelist's life and ministry
"We don't have buses coming to bring church people," Graham said. "We have buses organized by church people to bring the un-church people. Because we found if we don't get them, not too many come."
There are scenes of the stadium being set up for Graham to preach to Cleveland, and finally, the crusade itself.
Fast forward 22 years and we see a story of the June 1994 crusade, also at Municipal Stadium, from WEWS reporter David Schifter.
We've closed the video clips with Graham being honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews with their Brotherhood Award.
Graham's remarks largely focus on race relations and segregation.
Billy Graham: See photos from pastor's sermons through the years
