Billy Zeoli
Billy Zeoli was an American evangelical leader, speaker and media executive from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zeoli served as the White house chaplain to U.S. President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford during the mid-1970s offering counsel on national spiritual matters, and acting as spiritual counselor to President Ford. In the 1960s, Zeoli was an early organizer of what would become Baseball Chapel, a Christian organization that provides professional Baseball players, and other athletes, Sunday church services in their locker rooms before sporting events. Zeoli was perhaps most remembered as the long-standing president of Gospel Films Inc, later becoming Gospel Communications Inc, a leading Christian media company that distributed media and promoted ministry outreach around the world. Zeoli held the position from 1962 until he retired from the organization in 2006.
Billy Zeoli | |
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Billy Zeoli speaking from the podium at the National Religious Broadcasters Annual Congressional Breakfast, January 28, 1975. Courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. | |
| Born | September 25, 1932 |
| Died | May 22, 2015 (aged 82) |
| Citizenship | US |
| Education | BA, History (1955) |
| Alma mater | Wheaton College Philadelphia School of the Bible L'Abri (circa 1972) |
| Occupation(s) | film executive producer professional sports chaplin internet content producer writer |
| Employer(s) | Gospel Communications International; Gospel Films, Inc.; Indianapolis Youth for Christ Billy Graham Indianapolis Crusade (1959). |
| Known for | White House Chaplain to U.S. President Gerald R. Ford (1974–1977) |
| Notable work | How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (1977, film executive producer) |
| Television | How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (2005; television series) |
| Title | God's Got a Better Idea (book author) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Marilyn Bruder (1955-1981) Ruth Zeoli (1984-1998) |
| Children | Steven Zeoli, Patresha Rohre, Dr. David Zeoli and Zachary Zeoli |
| Parent(s) | Anthony Zeoli and Elizabeth Zeoli |