IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 91 
Honoring the life and service of Dr. William Spoelhof, president emeritus 
of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 27, 2009 
Mr. EHLERS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Labor 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life and service of Dr. William Spoelhof, presi-
dent emeritus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michi-
gan. 
Whereas Dr. William Spoelhof was born on December 8, 
1909, in Paterson, New Jersey, and passed away on De-
cember 3, 2008, at the age of 98; 
Whereas in 1931, Dr. Spoelhof graduated from Calvin Col-
lege in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and began teaching so-
cial studies at the middle school level; 
Whereas in 1937, Dr. Spoelhof received his Master of Arts 
degree from Columbia University and began his doctoral 
studies at the University of Michigan; 
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•HRES 91 IH 
Whereas during World War II, Dr. Spoelhof served our coun-
try by joining the Office of Strategic Services in 1942 
and enlisting in the Navy in 1943; 
Whereas following the war, Dr. Spoelhof completed his doc-
toral work at the University of Michigan, and, in 1946, 
returned to Calvin College to teach history and political 
science; 
Whereas in 1956, 5 years after becoming president of Calvin 
College, Dr. Spoelhof oversaw the process of moving Cal-
vin College from its original Franklin Street campus lo-
cated near downtown Grand Rapids to its current 
Knollcrest campus in southeast Grand Rapids; 
Whereas Dr. Spoelhof carefully balanced Calvin College’s vi-
sion for excellence in academics with its relationship with 
the Christian Reformed Church, as he effectively steered 
the College through church conflicts and the tumultuous, 
nationwide student protests of the 1960s; 
Whereas in 1976, after 25 years of service as an adminis-
trator, Dr. Spoelhof became the longest-serving president 
in Calvin College’s history to date and announced his re-
tirement; 
Whereas after his formal retirement, Dr. Spoelhof was named 
president emeritus and maintained an office and steady 
presence at the College, offering continued support and 
goodwill whenever needed; 
Whereas Dr. Spoelhof was a Christian role model and mentor 
to many faculty members, staff, and students, as he pro-
vided wisdom and counsel to thousands of individuals 
during his more than 6 decades of service to Calvin Col-
lege; 
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•HRES 91 IH 
Whereas Dr. Spoelhof is fondly remembered for his contribu-
tions to daily discussions with retired faculty and stu-
dents at the ‘‘Emeritorium’’ and for his kind words to 
passersby around the campus; 
Whereas on December 3, 2004, Calvin College physics and 
astronomy professor, Larry Molnar, discovered an aster-
oid, and named it Asteroid 129099 Spoelhof in honor of 
Dr. Spoelhof; 
Whereas Dr. Spoelhof was a respected leader in the Christian 
Reformed Church denomination, an educator of genera-
tions of teachers and ministers through programs at Cal-
vin College, a faithful presence at the denominational 
Synod meetings, and a loyal member of the Neland Ave-
nue Christian Reformed Church; 
Whereas Dr. Spoelhof was awarded the Bronze Star Medal 
by the Navy for his service in World War II; 
Whereas, for his contributions in liaison with the Dutch Re-
sistance Movement, Dr. Spoelhof was honored by Queen 
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the Order of Orange- 
Nassau with swords and a laurel wreath; 
Whereas in 1935, Dr. Spoelhof married Miss Angeline 
Nydam, and they had three children, Robert Spoelhof, 
Elsa Scherphorn, and Peter Spoelhof; 
Whereas Ange, as Dr. Spoelhof lovingly called his wife, 
passed away in 1994; and 
Whereas Dr. Spoelhof lived a life of gratitude and desired to 
bring God’s glory in all he did, and, on December 3, 
2008, the Calvin College community lost a visionary lead-
er and wise friend: Now, therefore, be it 
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•HRES 91 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 
the life of Dr. William Spoelhof and his outstanding devo-
tion and service as a member of the military, teacher, and 
professor, president, and friend of Calvin College in Grand 
Rapids, Michigan. 
Æ 
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