Former Calvin College president dies

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - A longtime president of Calvin College has passed away.

In a statement from the college, Dr. William Spoelhof, who served as president from 1951 until 1976, died in his sleep early this morning. Spoelhof would have turned 99 on December 8th.

Spoelhof was also a student at Calvin from 1927 until 1931. He taught history at Calvin from 1946 until 1951 when he became president of the school.

After retiring from Calvin in 1976, Spoelhof remained a visible figure on campus, maintaining regular office hours, conversing with students, socializing with fellow faculty members and enjoying a wide variety of campus activities, including varsity sports.

Current Calvin president Dr. Gaylen Byker said in the statement, "He was consumate scholar, leader, manager and Christian role model. His involvement very much shaped the college we know today as a leader in Christian, liberal arts education. He was thrust into the presidency and performed with great integrity and effectiveness for a quarter of a century. On a personal level I will miss his friendship, his wisdom and his counsel a great deal."

Spoelhof was the president of Calvin when the college moved from its location on Franklin Street in Grand Rapids to the current Knollcrest campus.

According to Calvin College, Spoelhof joined the Coordinator of Intelligence Office in Washington, DC, during World War II, which became the Office of Strategic Services and was responsible for gathering and analyzing non-military intelligence from around the world. Spoelhof wrote civil affairs handbooks for military personnel who might be sent to the Netherlands as it was being liberated.

He also received a commission as a naval officer and training at Fort Schuyler and was sent to London as a special intelligence agent, arriving a week before D-Day. He followed the allied troops into Paris, then Brussels, where he established an office. Spoelhof then teamed with the Canadian Army as it was liberating the Netherlands, establishing his office in Eindhoven until the country was liberated.

Memorial services are still pending.