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Oral's son, Richard, the former president of the school, described his father's worldwide appeal in the days after his passing: He made the cover of more than 800 newspapers worldwide; he was the No. 1 searched name on Yahoo; more than 200 voice mails and 300 text messages flooded the ministry. "My father is in heaven," Roberts said, his voice slightly cracking. "He's home for Christmas. He's home." Richard Roberts resigned as president in 2007 amid allegations his family used school money to live a life of luxury. He has denied all wrongdoing and continues to preach on television. The school has recovered from the scandal, which found ORU more than $50 million in debt, and enrollment ticked up slightly this year. Oral Roberts' last appearance at the university came in September, when he returned to the campus he began building nearly 50 years ago to help inaugurate of the school's new president, Mark Rutland. His doctors advised him not to make the trip, but Roberts went anyway. At the ceremony, Roberts needed a walker and two assistants to help him to his seat on stage. He looked frail, and his breathing was labored during the brief remarks he gave.
[Associated
Press;
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