Contact: Dr. Ronald S. Godwin, Liberty University, 434-582-7600

LYNCHBURG, Va., May 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell, Founder and Chancellor of Liberty University and Founder and Pastor of the historic Thomas Road Baptist Church, died today.  He was 73.

Rev. Falwell was found unconscious in his office around 11:30 a.m., by members of his staff and received immediate resuscitation efforts there, again in the ambulance and at Lynchburg General Hospital.

He was officially pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m.

Rev. Falwell's family, including his wife Macel and sons Jerry Falwell, Jr. and Jonathan Falwell, were with him at the hospital at the time of his death.

Ministry officials called a special 2:00 p.m. meeting in the Thomas Road Baptist Church auditorium and on less than an hours notice over 6,000 faculty, staff, students and church members attended the announcement of the passing of their Pastor and Chancellor.

Rev. Falwell established the Thomas Road Baptist Church in 1956 where he pastored for over 50 years. He founded Liberty University in 1971 and oversaw its rise to prominence as the largest evangelical University in America.