Born February 6, 1904 in Vernon, Alabama, Benjamin Franklin Perkins was known affectionately by many as “Brother Ben” or to most of the world as “B. F. Perkins.”
He longed to see the world when he was young. and became a seaman with the merchant marines prior to the required age by saying he was older. He traveled to 28 countries during his 48 years away from Alabama. Eventually Perkins became a U. S. Marine on security detail, who guarded the White House when Coolidge was President. He had a mysterious government career with other security details that he declined to discuss after leaving his White House position. On one of his missions abroad, he was converted to Christianity eventually becoming an evangelist who traveled and preached revivals throughout the United States.