47th Scripps National Spelling Bee

47th Scripps National Spelling Bee

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The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 47th National Spelling Bee
Date June 5-6, 1974
Location The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Winner Julie Ann Junkin
Residence Fort Worth, Texas
Sponsor Birmingham Post-Herald
Sponsor location Birmingham, Alabama
Winning word hydrophyte
No. of contestants 80
Pronouncer Richard R. Baker
Preceded by 46th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by 48th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 47th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 5-6, 1974, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 12-year old Julie Ann Junkin, a sixth-grader from Gordo, Alabama, spelling "hydrophyte".[1][2] Second place went to 14-year old Gail Meier of Arlington, Tennessee (sponsored by the Memphis Press-Scimitar), who misspelled "mantelletta."[1]

Junkin was the first sixth-grade contestant to win since John Capehart won in the 1961 competition, [3] and the first winner from Alabama (and only as of 2015).[4]

There were 80 entrants in that year, sponsored by 76 newspapers.[1] The field was reduced by 25 by the end of the first day of competition, where 522 words were used.[5]

A taped version of the finals, hosted by Jean Shepherd, appeared on television on PBS this year (and was done again in 1977).[6][7][8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 (8 June 1974). Spelling bee winner never heard of word, Lodi News Sentinel (UPI story)
  2. ↑ (7 June 1974). Emotional spelling, The Bulletin (photos of Julie)
  3. ↑ (6 June 1974). Press Speller Meets Pat Nixon, Pittsburgh Press
  4. ↑ (26 May 2001). Spell champion - twice? Another Alabamian could win National Spelling Bee, Tuscaloosa News
  5. ↑ Watkins, Ed (June 6 1974). Gordon girl wins national spelling crown, Tuscaloosa News
  6. ↑ History, Spellingbee.com, Retrieved 24 August 2016
  7. ↑ (10 June 1974). Shepherd Hosts Spellers, Palm Beach Post, p. B7
  8. ↑ (29 May 1974). National bee to be televised, Star News
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