Geneva College is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Life G Award. The Life G Award, Geneva’s highest alumni honor, is presented each year to a graduate for service above self, one who embodies the principles for which Geneva College stands, and whose efforts on behalf of the College, the community, and the nation have been exemplary. Joyce Lynn ‘61, William Mayhew ‘64, and Wayne Spear ‘57, PhD, are the recipients of this year’s award and have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to servant-leadership in their fields of work.
Recipients must have previously received Geneva's Distinguished Service Award and have been nominated for the "Life G" award by the Geneva College Alumni Council.
Joyce Lynn
Joyce Lynn grew up in White Lake, New York, graduating from Monticello High School in 1957. She entered Geneva College that fall where she participated in many college activities. She graduated in 1961 with a bachelor’s in elementary education.
Joyce taught in public schools in Ohio and Monroeville, Pennsylvania, before being called to the fledgling Beaver County Christian School in Beaver Falls as its second teacher in the fall of 1970. Over the next 46 years she was privileged to be involved in the development of the school's structure and curriculum as well as in teaching, particularly in the Middle School.
Joyce has served the Reformed Presbyterian Church through the Geneva College Board of Trustees where she was secretary for many years and through her role as a deacon in two congregations.
Joyce received Geneva's Distinguished Service Award in 2011.
William Mayhew
William was born and raised in a small town in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Upon graduating from Chester High School, he accepted a scholarship from Geneva College to play football for the Golden Tornadoes.
William graduated in 1964 with a degree in business administration. He received his draft notice in 1964 and joined the United States Navy. He attended flight training, received his wings in1967, and deployed to Vietnam in 1968 on the USS Constellation. On August 17, 1968, he was shot down over North Vietnam and was a prisoner of war until March 14, 1973, when he was released and returned to the U.S.A.
During this time, William's faith in God was strengthened, and his love for his family and his country brought him safely home.
Upon William's return he became an instructor at the ROTC at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he earned his second degree, a masters in public administration.
In 1978, after the birth of his first child, William made the decision to leave the Navy and went to work in the public sector for McKay Oil & Gas. The company drilled and operated wells in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico.
William retired in 2021 and he and his wife Amy now call St. Augustine, Florida, home.
They happily celebrate 35 years of marriage with a blended family, seven grandchildren, and a great grandson.
Wayne Spear
Wayne R. Spear, born in 1935, entered Geneva College in 1953, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor's in pre-ministerial studies. He sang in the Genevans, ran cross country and track, and was active in the Christian Service Union. In 1957, he joined three other Geneva students in the Covichords quartet, which went on a 10-week national tour to promote the College.
Wayne met his future wife, Mary McCracken, at Geneva. They were married in 1958 and the Lord has blessed them with three daughters and two sons, all of whom are graduates from Geneva. So far, 15 of their grandchildren have attended Geneva.
After completing his studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Wayne was ordained as a minister of the Gospel. He served as pastor in congregations in Glenwood, Minnesota, and San Diego, California.
In 1967 Wayne was called to teach at the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary. In preparation, he obtained a ThM degree from Westminster Seminary, and a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in cooperation with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He taught Systematic Theology and other courses at RPTS for 35 years.
During that time, Wayne had the privilege of preaching the word of God on trips to Northern Ireland, England, Canada, Romania, and Japan. He served as a ruling elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Hills, and in Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church.
He was a member of Geneva’s Board of Corporators for more than 10 years, serving as chairman for part of that time. In 1978 Geneva honored him with the Distinguished Service Award.
By Erika Kauffman '20
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