05 Mar The Rev. Billy Graham in Bartow, Florida
Billy Graham, five years later, in 1966
Most of the following is excerpted from my book, Liberty Lady, the story of my parents’ experiences during World War II, followed by their years in Bartow, Florida.
In 1961, when the world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham came to Peace River Park in Bartow for the Easter sunrise service, my father Herman Allen organized the event. Dr. Graham had been refused permission to preach the Easter service at nearby Bok Tower in Lake Wales “because of the flashlight bulbs, and those who use them, the apparatus of television, the police escorts to open lanes for the speaker to come and go … the necessary hubbub and confusion.” [As quoted in the Spartanbug Herald, January 18, 1961, referencing a letter to the Lake Wales Ministerial Association from the son of the building of the Bok Tower.]
There was a lot of hubbub in Bartow that day, but Herman was determined that everything would run as efficiently as possible. The Florida Highway patrol officials counted 17,000 cars. The Lakeland Ledger wrote that it was reported to be the largest crowd ever assembled in Polk County.
A Polk County Democrat news article described the day. “A solid mass of humanity covered the eastern slope of the Peace River Park amphitheater long before Dr. Billy Graham stepped to the microphone to preach the Easter sunrise service. … Among the hardest workers of the many who were on duty all night long was Arrangements Chairman Herman F. Allen. The seemingly inexhaustible Allen was all over the place, seeing that everything ran smoothly. For nearly two hours, before the service began, he was at the microphone, telling the throng where refreshments could be obtained, directing spectators to seating areas, assembling the choir, ushers and counselors in their designated locations, urging the fire lanes be kept open.
Bumper to bumper traffic developed early. By 4:45, the line extended back to the Bartow city limits but kept moving steadily. An hour later there was an uninterrupted string of cars back to the Polk County courthouse, two miles from the park.”
Billy Graham insisted on integrated crusades, certainly an anomaly in the deep south during those years.
The newspaper article continued … “The congregation was, perhaps, Bartow’s first racially integrated public gathering. Only a comparative handful of Negroes attended, but they were scattered throughout the huge throng, without incident or comment. Both white and colored responded to the altar call.”
As my mother Hedy Allen related years later, a reporter from one of the area newspapers mentioned in his story that the Billy Graham Easter Crusade was put on by a Jew. “It was a very nice article,” Hedy said, “but Daddy did not know why they had to bring up the part about his being Jewish.”
This past weekend, my sisters and I talked about our Dad at the Billy Graham Easter Service. We’re sure Herman heard every word spoken by this great man who would become the most influential Christian preacher of his time.
Charles Melvin
Posted at 08:13h, 10 MayI was a 16 year old boy from WINTER Haven. We arrived early to insure or seats. My best friend, Roy Edwards and I had been in an all night prayer gathering in a hotel with several other young men and Gideon leaders, along with Billy Graham team member Grady Wilson. We were so excited to be a part of this great moment.