Title President Successor Anthony Diekema Spouse Angeline Nydam (m. 1935) | Name William Spoelhof Term 1951–1976 Predecessor Henry Schultze | |
Born December 8, 1909 Paterson, New Jersey
United States Occupation Calvin College
University of Michigan Died December 3, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Children Robert Spoelhof, Elsa Scherphorn, Peter Spoelhof Education University of Michigan (1937), Calvin College (1931), University of Michigan | ||
William Spoelhof (December 8, 1909 – December 3, 2008) was the President of Calvin College, and President Emeritus of the Grand Rapids, Michigan school.
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Biography
Spoelhof was a native of Paterson, New Jersey and graduated from Calvin College in 1931. He received a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1937. After completing his doctoral studies, he returned to Calvin to teach history and political science in 1946.
In 1956, after becoming president of the college, Spoelhof was responsible for the initiation of the school's move to its current Knollcrest campus. The move was not completed until 1973. Toward the end of the 1960s Spoelhof also had to deal with the impact of nationwide student protest movements on the Calvin campus.
In 1935 Spoelhof married Angeline Nydam, and they had three children. The asteroid 129099 Spoelhof is named in his honour.
Spoelhof died on December 3, 2008 just five days shy of his 99th birthday.
Military Service
On June 17, 1943, Spoelhof applied for a commission or warrant officer's rank in the US Naval Reserve and was accepted, becoming a Lieutenant, Junior Grade. He joined the OSS and served as an intelligence analyst, specifically focusing upon the liberation of the Netherlands. His mission of gathering intelligence in the Netherlands was terminated on October 10, 1945, and he was released from active duty on November 9, 1945.
On January 31, 1946, he was awarded the Bronze star for his actions during the liberation of the Netherlands. On February 23, 1946, he was made a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau by decree of Queen Wilhelmina.