Rev. Jerry Falwell

The Rev. Jerry Falwell answers a question during an interview at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., June 20, 2006. Falwell, a television evangelist, founded the Moral Majority in 1979. He used the conservative Christian movement to mold the religious right into a political power and he became the face of the religious right in the 1980s He died Tuesday, May 15, 2007. He was 73.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell looks around the inside of an auxiliary sanctuary at the new Thomas Road Baptist Church on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., June 20, 2006. Falwell was found unconscious in his office Tuesday, May 15, 2007, and taken to the hospital, he died a short time later after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks at the SBC Pastors' Conference on June 20, 2005, in Nashville. The church Falwell started in an abandoned bottling plant in 1956 grew into a religious empire that includes the 22,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, television's the "Old Time Gospel Hour" and 7,700-student Liberty University. He built Christian elementary schools, homes for unwed mothers and a home for alcoholics.

Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks during the Christian Coalition of America Road to Victory 2000 conference in Washington Sept. 29, 2000. Falwell, who died Tuesday, May 15, 2007, is survived by his wife, Macel, and three children, Jerry, Jonathan and Jeannie.

Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks on television's "Meet the Press," Nov. 28, 2004, in Washington. Falwell, one of the nation's leading figures in the religious right, talked about the religion, politics and moral values issues that became a part of the 2004 presidential election.

Falwell, right, appears with Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione on the set of NBC's "Tomorrow" show, Feb. 5, 1981. The two were locked in a legal battle over Guccione's publication of an interview with Falwell and investigation of his ministry's financial practices. Falwell became the face of the religious right, appearing on national magazine covers and on television talk shows.

Falwell takes a turn on the back of a longhorn steer during a party sponsored by the National Conservative Political Action Committee, Aug. 23, 1984, in Dallas. Falwell credited his Moral Majority with getting millions of conservative voters registered, electing Ronald Reagan and giving Republicans Senate control in 1980.

Falwell and his wife, Macel, are pictured in 1987. The couple married in 1958, and has two sons and a daughter. Macel was playing the piano the night of Falwell's conversion to Evangelical Christianity, in 1952, and has served as his church's longtime pianist.

Falwell speaks to the Associated Press Managing Editors Convention in Seattle, Sept. 16, 1987. In 1983, U.S. News & World Report named him one of 25 most influential people in America.

Falwell is projected on screens while giving the closing benediction at the Republican National Convention in San Diego, as House Speaker U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich holds his hands to his face in prayer, Aug. 14, 1996.

Falwell, left, speaks with Oliver North on the floor of the Republican National Convention, Aug. 12, 1996, in San Diego.

Falwell gives Hustler publisher Larry Flynt a pat on the back while appearing on the Larry King show on CNN, Jan. 10, 1997, in New York. Falwell said that while he hates what Flynt does, he loves him. A legal battle between the two over a satire published in Flynt's magazine in 1988 made it all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled Flynt's actions were protected under the First Amendment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, meets with Falwell in Washington, Jan. 19, 1998. "It is my belief that the Bible Belt in America is Israel's only safety belt right now," Falwell told CBS' "60 Minutes" in 2002. The return of the Jews to their ancient homeland is seen as necessary for Christ's second coming. In same interview, he called the prophet Mohammed a "terrorist," which he later apologized for.

Rev. Jesse Jackson grasps hands with Falwell, left, and UMWA president Cecil Roberts, right, on a stage in Nelsonville, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1998. Jackson held a march and rally to focus attention on black lung disease and Appalachian poverty.

Falwell speaks during an anti-violence forum at his church in Lynchburg, Va., Oct. 24, 1999. Falwell, long condemned homosexuality and even attacked the Teletubbies for allegedly including a gay role model, but hosted 200 gay Christians at the forum. He said if one of his sons were gay, "I'd tell him, 'I love you just as much ... I'm going to pray for you and do everything I can to bring you out of this lifestyle'."

Falwell stands in front of a scale model of Liberty Village, May 30, 2002, in Lynchburg, Va. Liberty Village was planned as a 1,135-unit retirement center with its own markets, putting green, chapel and associate pastor from Falwell's church.

Falwell stands next to a service road where construction crews are busy moving dirt, May 30, 2002, in Lynchburg, Va. The site is where the new Thomas Road Baptist Church was planned.

Falwell speaks at a rally on the steps of the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery. Ala., Aug. 16, 2003. The rally was in support of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who said he would defy a federal court order to remove his 5,300-pound Ten Commandments monument from public display in the State Judicial Building.

Falwell leads funeral services for Marine Sgt. Jesse Strong, 24, held at Lake Region Union High School, in Orleans, Vt., Feb. 4, 2005. Strong, of Irasburg, Vt., was killed in action in Iraq, Jan. 26, 2005. Falwell is chancellor of Liberty University, where Strong graduated.

Falwell, founder and chancellor of Liberty University, cheers on his team during Liberty's 88-79 upset over DePaul in their NCAA second-round game, March 22, 2005, in College Park, Md.