Evangelist Billy Graham has been ranked among the top 10 in the Gallup Poll’s “Most Admired Man” list more times — 61 — than any other man since Gallup began the poll of Americans in 1948.
That’s also more times than any woman has appeared on its “Most Admired Woman” list.
The Gallup Organization owed Graham’s record-breaking appearances on the list in part to his longevity. Graham died on Wednesday (Feb. 21) at the age of 99. To make the list, you must be a living person.
Graham never held the top spot on the list, a position most often claimed by sitting presidents. He held the second spot eight times. After Graham, Ronald Reagan holds the next highest number of appearances in the top-10 list: 31.
Looking across several decades, here’s how he ranked in relation to presidents and other influential leaders:
2004
1. George W. Bush
5. Billy Graham
1999
1. Bill Clinton
2. Billy Graham
1992
1. George H.W. Bush
5. Billy Graham
1982
1. Ronald Reagan
2. Pope John Paul II
3. Billy Graham
1980
1. Pope John Paul II
2. Jimmy Carter
4. Billy Graham
1978
1. Jimmy Carter
2. Pope John Paul II
3. Billy Graham
1974
1. Henry Kissinger
2. Billy Graham
3. Gerald Ford
1969
1. Richard Nixon
2. Billy Graham
1965
1. Lyndon Johnson
4. Billy Graham
1955
1. Dwight Eisenhower
9. Billy Graham
Source: The Gallup Organization
Courtesy: Religion News Service
Photo: President Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan greet Billy Graham, left, at the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Hilton Washington on Feb. 5, 1981.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Publication date: February 27, 2018
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