[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24710]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING WILLIAM SPOELHOF

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and service of 
William Spoelhof, president emeritus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, 
Michigan. He was born in 1909 in Paterson, New Jersey, and passed away 
on December 3, 2008, at the age of 98.
  William Spoelhof graduated from Calvin College in 1931, and began 
teaching history and civics at the secondary level. He received his 
masters of arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1937, and 
began his doctoral studies there.
  During World War II, Mr. Spoelhof enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and 
served our country in the Office of Strategic Services. Following the 
war, he completed his doctoral work, and went to Calvin College to 
teach history and political science in 1946.
  After becoming president of Calvin College, Dr. Spoelhof oversaw the 
process of moving Calvin College from its original Franklin Street 
campus, located in urban Grand Rapids, to its current Knollcrest campus 
in southeast Grand Rapids.
  Dr. Spoelhof carefully balanced the college's vision for excellent 
academics with its relationship with the Christian Reformed Church, as 
he effectively steered the college through occasional church conflicts 
and the tumultuous, nation-wide student protests of the 1960s.
  In 1976, Dr. Spoelhof announced his retirement after 25 years, the 
longest serving president in Calvin College's history. After his formal 
retirement, he was named president emeritus and maintained an office 
and steady presence at the College, offering continued support and 
goodwill whenever needed.
  Dr. Spoelhof was a Christian role model and mentor to many faculty 
members, staff and students, as he provided wisdom and counsel to 
thousands during his more than 8 decades of service to Calvin College.
  On a personal note, Dr. Spoelhof recruited me from the University of 
California at Berkeley to teach physics at Calvin College. I am deeply 
grateful for his guidance and for leading me to teach at a wonderful, 
Christian liberal arts college.
  Dr. Spoelhof is fondly remembered for his contributions to daily 
discussions with retired faculty and students at the ``Emeritorium'', 
and for his kind words to passers-by around the campus.
  In 1935, William Spoelhof married Miss Angeline Nydam, and they had 
three children, Robert Spoelhof, Elsa Scherphorn, and Peter Spoelhof. 
Ange, as Dr. Spoelhof lovingly called his wife, passed away in 1994.
  Dr. Spoelhof lived a life of gratitude, and desired to bring God 
glory in all he did. On December 3, 2008, the Calvin College community 
lost a visionary leader and wise friend. He is to be honored and 
recognized for his outstanding devotion and service as a member of the 
military, a Calvin College professor, and president and friend.

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