It was the 1975 Billy Graham Crusade in Taipei, Taiwan, October 29-November 2 that I met Cliff, Billy Graham, Bev Shea and Tedd Smith. I was working with the team doing all the prep work for the Crusade. My time with the team was limited, but that short time was very special to me. I was getting off of the elevator at the Grand Hotel and he was getting on. Now I’m standing one on one in front of my hero and all of a sudden I was speechless. As a young 22-year-old, I had never had the attention of someone so important and well known. I could not get anything out of my mouth but a nervous “Hello, Mr. Barrows.” “That’s a beautiful tie,” I said. He said, “Do you really like it?” I felt like a dork. Here I am with this great man and all I can do is compliment his tie. “Yessir, it’s real nice.” He blew my mind when he took it off and he handed it to me and said it is mine. I may have been a dork but I’ve got Cliff Barrows’ tie. Yep, still have it. That’s the kind of man he was.
– Ed Helveston