20th Scripps National Spelling Bee

Last updated
20th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Nationalpressbuilding1.jpg
DateMay 29, 1947
LocationAuditorium of the National Press Building, Washington, D.C. [1]
WinnerMattie Lou Pollard
Age14
Residence Thomaston, Georgia
Sponsor Atlanta Journal
Sponsor location Atlanta, Georgia
Winning wordchlorophyll
No. of contestants35
PronouncerHarold F. Harding [2]
Preceded by 19th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by 21st Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 20th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 29, 1947, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 14-year-old girl Mattie Lou Pollard of Thomaston, Georgia, who attended a one-room schoolhouse, correctly spelling the word chlorophyll. Pollard had placed sixth in the prior's years bee. Fourteen-year-old Sonya Rodolfo of Chicago (but a native of the Philippines) took second, and failed to spell "maggoty", followed by Suzanne Gelin of Parma, Ohio, who misspelled "sarsaparilla". [3] [4] Fourth place when to Sharon Gross of Akron, Ohio, who misspelled "bellicose" in the 31st round. [5]

Pollard was the first Bee winner from Georgia. She later worked for the Department of Defense, and the National Park Service. She died in Norcross, Georgia on January 10, 2006. [6]

Related Research Articles

The 79th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 31 and June 1, 2006. For the first time in the Bee's history, ABC broadcast the Championship Rounds on primetime television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Annual spelling bee held in the United States of America

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and often referred to as the National Spelling Bee or simply “the Spelling Bee” in the United States, is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. The bee is run on a not-for-profit basis by The E. W. Scripps Company and is held at a hotel or convention center in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area during the week following Memorial Day weekend. Since 2011, it has been held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center hotel in National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. It was previously held at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington D.C. from 1996 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> 2009 spelling competition

The 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee took place between May 26–28, 2009 in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">85th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 2012

The 85th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Gaylord National, in Oxon Hill, Maryland from May 27 to May 31, 2012, and was broadcast live on ESPN3. The championship finals occurred on May 31, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">86th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 2013

The 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held from May 28 to May 30, 2013 at the Gaylord National in Oxon Hill, Maryland and was broadcast live on ESPN3, ESPN2, and ESPN. For the first time, the competition included a vocabulary quiz in addition to the usual spelling challenge. Arvind Mahankali of Bayside, New York, won the competition and received the $30,000 grand prize. Including local feeder tournaments, an estimated 11 million children participated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1928

The 4th National Spelling Bee was held at the National Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 23, 1928, hosted by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1948

The 21st Scripps National Spelling Bee was hosted in Washington, District of Columbia on May 28, 1948, by the E.W. Scripps Company. The winner was 14-year-old Jean Chappelear of Ohio, who correctly spelled the word psychiatry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1950

The 23rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on Friday, May 26, 1950, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company, at the National Press Club auditorium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1951

The 24th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 25, 1951, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company, at the National Press Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">26th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1953

The 26th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 21, 1953, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">29th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1956

The 29th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Department of Commerce auditorium in Washington, District of Columbia on May 17, 1956, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">33rd Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1960

The 33rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, District of Columbia on June 8–9, 1960, by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">35th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1962

The 35th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on June 6–7, 1962, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">43rd Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1970

The 43rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 3–4, 1970, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">44th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1971

The 44th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 9–10, 1971, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1977

The 50th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 8–9, 1977 sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1980

The 53rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 28–29, 1980, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1982

The 55th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on June 2–3, 1982, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">56th Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1983

The 56th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on June 8–9, 1983, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">63rd Scripps National Spelling Bee</span> Spelling bee held in the United States in 1990

The 63rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 30–31, 1990, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

References

  1. (16 February 1947). City Spelling Bee Winner to Enter Washington Tilt, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
  2. (31 May 1947). Article (paywall), El Paso Herald Post ("At left is pronouncer, Dr. Harold F. Harding of Ohio State University, Awaiting her turn at right is Joan Horn of Fort Worth.")
  3. (30 May 1947). Georgia Girl Queen Bee of Spellers, St. Petersburg Times (Associated Press)
  4. (9 June 1947). Education: Spelldown, Time (magazine)
  5. (30 May 1947). Georgian Wins Spelling Bee, Sarasota Herald Tribune (Associated Press)
  6. (19 January 2006). NORCROSS: Mattie Lou Cato, 73, won national spelling bee in 1947, Atlanta Journal-Constitution