William Spoelhof

William Spoelhof (December 8, 1909 – December 3, 2008) was the President of Calvin College, and President Emeritus of the Grand Rapids, Michigan school.

William Spoelhof
BornDecember 8, 1909
Paterson, New Jersey
United States
DiedDecember 3, 2008(2008-12-03) (aged 98)
Grand Rapids, Michigan
United States
OccupationCalvin College
University of Michigan
TitlePresident
Term1951–1976
PredecessorHenry Schultze
SuccessorAnthony Diekema
Spouse(s)Angeline Nydam
ChildrenRobert Spoelhof, Elsa Scherphorn, and Peter Spoelhof.

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.[1]

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.[2] 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,[3] and he was released from active duty on November 9, 1945.[4]

On January 31, 1946, he was awarded the Bronze star for his actions during the liberation of the Netherlands.[5] On February 23, 1946, he was invested as a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau by decree of Queen Wilhelmina.[6]

References
  1. "Longtime Calvin College president William Spoelhof dead at age 98". Grand Rapids Press. December 3, 2008. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  2. Application for Commission or Warrant, June 17, 1943, William Spoelhof Papers, Heritage Hall Archives, Hekman Library, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  3. From the Chief of Naval Personnel to Lieutenant William Spoelhof, "Orders," 10 October 1945, William Spoelhof Papers, Heritage Hall Archives, Hekman Library, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  4. From the Chief of Naval Personnel to Lieutenant William Spoelhof, "Release from Active Duty," 9 November 1945, William Spoelhof Papers, Heritage Hall Archives, Hekman Library, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  5. Citation for Bronze Star Medal, January 31, 1946, William Spoelhof Papers, Heritage Hall Archives, Hekman Library, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  6. Appointment of Lieutenant William Spoelhof to be a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau, February 23, 1946, William Spoelhof Papers, Heritage Hall Archives, Hekman Library, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bibliography
  • Cassidy, William L., ed. History of the Schools and Training Branch, Office of Strategic Services. San Francisco: Kingfisher Press, 1983.
  • Roosevelt, Kermit. War Report of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). New York: Walker, 1976.
  • 0Katz, Barry M. Foreign Intelligence: Research and Analysis in the Office of Strategic Services, 1942-45. Cambridge and London: Harvard Press, 1989.
  • OSS Assessment Staff. Assessment of Men; Selection of Personnel for the Office of Strategic Services. New York: Rinehart and Company, 1948.
  • Dejong, Gerald F. The Dutch in America, 1609-1974. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1975.
  • Lucas, Henry S. Netherlanders in America: Dutch Immigration to the United States and Canada, 1789-1950. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989.
  • Jennifer Davis Heaps, "Tracking Intelligence Information: The Office of Strategic Services," The American Archivist 61, No. 2 (Fall 1998): 287-308, accessed June 11, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/40294089
  • Barry M. Katz, "The Criticism of Arms: The Frankfurt School Goes to War," The Journal of Modern History 59, No. 3 (September 1987), 439-478, accessed June 11, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1879857
  • J. A. W. Burger, "The Liberation of Holland: Some Problems," International Affairs 20, No. 3 (July 1944), 331-340, accessed June 11, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/3018559
  • C. Banning and Henriette A. Lohr, "Occupied Holland," The British Medical Journal 1, No. 4502 (April 19, 1947), 539-542, accessed June 11, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/20369383
  • Mira Wilkins, "Dutch Multinational Enterprises in the United States: A Historical Summary," The Business History Review 79, No. 2 (Summer 2005), 193-273, accessed June 11, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25097027
  • Joyce D. Goodfriend, "Writing/Righting Dutch Colonial History," New York History 80, No. 1 (January 1999), 4-28, accessed June 11, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23182347
Academic offices
Preceded by
Henry Schultze		 President of Calvin College
1951–1976		 Succeeded by
Anthony J. Diekema
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