Giving Spirit

Gordon Spainhower, BS EE ’70, and Joyce Spainhower are a couple whose giving extends beyond people.

In 2000 the Spainhowers moved to Columbia, Missouri, to start Expert Electric, Inc.—an electric contracting business. Now operating part time, Gordon and Joyce are able to spend more time as volunteer puppy raisers for Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to individuals with disabilities.

Similar to caring about the futures of their furry companions, the Spainhowers care about the future of University of Missouri students. "We specifically wanted to do something for engineering. We created two scholarships: one to encourage students in rural Missouri, in or near my hometown, and a second scholarship to help students get hands-on, problem-solving experience while in school. I came out of school with no debt. Debt is a huge issue now," said Gordon.

Originally from Hamilton, Missouri, Gordon grew up in a 1950s post-war small town where everyone knew each other. Gordon compared his childhood to the sitcom "Leave It to Beaver" and stated, "It was a good place to grow up."

Today, Gordon is amazed he ended up studying electrical engineering at the University of Missouri. When he was a junior in high school, he and his classmates went through aptitude testing to determine possible career paths. Gordon says the credit goes to his high school counselor for recommending engineering. Gordon didn't know many people with college degrees at the time, but while enrolled at MU he said, "It was a perfect fit."

Alongside the friendships made in school, a nostalgic piece from college Gordon continues to carry is his slide rule. The original tool is held in a gently worn leather-bound case. A slot with his name appears on the front in font from a typewriter. Before the calculator, the slide rule helped solve many problems—just not to the exact decimal. Gordon said, "This is an amazing tool and made you think about the reasonable answer for equations."

The first job Gordon worked after completing his degree was at Illinois Power Company, where he served for 30 years. "There are many benefits to an engineering degree," said Gordon. Over the course of his career, he worked a range of positions, including distribution design, pricing and ratemaking, technology assessment, forecasting, market and load research, customer service, and more. He gives tribute to his engineering degree for the multiple roles he was able to perform. Gordon said, "The cool part of the job was not being stuck in a rut, and it was an excellent company."

Joyce's parents emigrated from Germany in the late 1930s. They met in the U.S. and Joyce was born a first-generation American citizen. Growing up, Joyce's parents did not speak German in their household. She went on to learn German in high school, but only because of the two-year requirement of a foreign language to graduate.

For Joyce, culture dictated professions for women. "Secretary, nurse, or teacher were the available options. I would have liked to have gone into occupational therapy, but I jumped into education," said Joyce. "I was certified in teaching elementary education, but the school I worked for at the time needed a German teacher—the previous one had been drafted for the Vietnam War." She earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education over the course of her studies.

She went on to teach foreign language for the rest of her career. The different methods used for learning foreign language fascinated Joyce. In addition to teaching German, she also taught English as a Second Language (ESL) and coached high school swimming and cross country.

In their free time, the Spainhowers enjoy remodeling their home. Joyce refers to Gordon as a "serial remodeler" because there are always home improvement projects in the works. Gordon is a cyclist and advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He annually rides in the Bike MS event in the St. Louis area and around the United States. On current electrical jobs, he graciously asks his clients to donate to the National MS Society in lieu of a payment.

Gordon currently serves as the Gift Planning and Regional Advancement Committee Chair, where both he and Joyce are members. They are also members of the MU Legacy Society. The Spainhowers support students with educational opportunities and scholarships through the University of Missouri College of Engineering. They will endow their scholarships through their estate plan and beneficiary designations.

To learn how you can establish or contribute to an existing scholarship, contact The Office of Gift Planning at giftplanning@missouri.edu or 1-800-970-9977 or 573-882-0272.