Rev. Billy Graham celebrates his 99th birthday!

Rev. Billy Graham

MONTREAT, North Carolina (WTVD) -- The Reverend Billy Graham is celebrating his 99th birthday today!

Graham is expected to share the day with family and friends at his home in Montreat, but people can still share their well wishes.
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William "Billy" Graham at age 17 on his graduation from Charlotte High School in June 1935.AP

Billy Graham, second from right, kneels in prayer on the White House Lawn July 14,1950 with friends, asking divine aid for President Truman in his handling of the Korean crisis.AP

Billy Graham poses with his wife, Ruth, and their three daughters - Ruth, 3, Anne, 6, and Virginia, 8 - on the liner Queen Mary following arrival in NYC on July 7, 1954.AP

American evangelist Billy Graham speaks to over 100,000 Berliners at the Olympic Stadium in Germany, June 27, 1954.AP

Evangelist Billy Graham gets Grand Commander Human Order of African Redemption from President of Liberia, William V.S. Tubman in 1960.AP

Evangelist Billy Graham holds a small Vietnamese Girl, who is having her legs treated, during a visit to the U.S. 3rd field hospital in Saigon Dec. 21, 1966.AP

American evangelist Billy Graham shown speaking Nov. 2, 1971 in London, England.AP

Evangelist Billy Graham speaks to 18,000 messengers in Dallas, June 13, 1974, on the closing night of the Southern Baptist Convention.AP

Billy Graham shown speaking in Tokyo in which he delivered the Christian message, in this predominantly Buddhist Nation, to a crowd of 43,000 at Korakuen Stadium on Oct. 1980.AP

President and Mrs. Clinton, along with Rev. Billy Graham bow their heads during the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington Feb.4, 1993.AP

Then-Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, center, poses for photo with Christian Evangelist Billy Graham and his son Franklin Graham at in Montreat on June 29, 2008.AP

President Barack Obama meets with Billy Graham at his mountainside home in Montreat on April 25, 2010.AP

In this Dec. 20, 2010 file photo, evangelist Billy Graham speaks to the media at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.AP

The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte is slated to host a special birthday celebration.

Here are nine things to know about one of America's most famous religious figures:

Born November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, the first of four children raised on the family's dairy farm

His 1949 Los Angeles Crusade -- scheduled for three weeks, but lasting more than eight -- thrust him into the national spotlight

Began his weekly "Hour of Decision" radio program in 1950, which was heard around the world for more than six decades

Made history in the early 1950s by demanding that the ropes separating the races at one of his Crusades in the South be taken down

His 1957 New York City Crusade -- scheduled for six weeks but lasting for sixteen -- is said to have reached more than two million people

Took the stage at Madison Square Garden alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his 1957 New York crusade and called for an end to segregation

In 1999, became the first non-musician to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Has preached the Christian message to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history-- nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories

Will celebrate his birthday today with one of his favorite desserts: lemon cake with lard icing

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