Voting Station

Billy James Hargis

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (August 3, 1925-November 27, 2004)
    Born in Texarkana, Arkansas
    Fundamentalist preacher and radio evangelist
    Established Christian Crusade (1950) and American Christian College (1971)

Why he might be annoying:

    He claimed there was a Communist conspiracy involving the United Nations, the National Council of Churches, labor unions, the civil rights movement, feminists, homosexuals, the mainstream media, the Beatles and who knows who else.
    The Disciples of Christ withdrew their ordination of him as a minister after he began attacking other churches as part of his anti-Communist crusade (1957).
    The IRS revoked the tax-exempt status of the Christian Crusade for engaging in political activities (1964).
    He was forced to resign as president of American Christian College over allegations that he had had sex with students (both male and female) at the college (1974).
    He reportedly used the story of David and Jonathan to seduce male students.
    He initially blamed his behavior on 'genes and chromosomes,' then backtracked and claimed it was a lie by 'the forces of Satan out to silence anti-Communism.'
    After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he declared that Communism 'is making a dramatic, secret comeback.' (1994)

Why he might not be annoying:

    At age 10, he promised to devote himself to God if his adoptive mother survived a serious operation.
    He was married to Betty Jane Secrest for 52 years.
    He also founded the David Livingston Missionary Foundation, which ran medical clinics and orphanages in Africa and Asia (1966).
    He said, 'I'd rather win souls to Christ than fight Communism any day, but a man has to do what God calls him to do.'
    He was the inspiration for the Don Imus character the Right Rev. Billy Sol Hargus.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 25 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 47 Votes: 51.06% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 33 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 66 Votes: 51.52% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 74 Votes: 81.08% Annoying