1953

The 26th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on May 21st, 1953. It was held at the Department of Commerce Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 53 spellers participated.

1953 champion Elizabeth Hess is the only winner of the National Spelling Bee to represent Arizona.

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About the 26th Bee

Champion

Elizabeth Hess

Phoenix, Arizona

Elizabeth Hess, age 13, sponsored by the Arizona Republic, won the $500 prize by correctly spelling the word “soubrette.”

Elizabeth earned a National Merit Scholarship in high school. It was reported that she was expected to attend the University of Arizona and major in archaeology.

Location

Department of Commerce Auditorium

Winning Word

soubrette(n)

soo-BRET

a lady's maid in comedies who acts the part of a coquettish maidservant or frivolous young woman.

This word went from Latin to Provencal to French.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Charles Schneider

Judges

  • William Harold Martin
  • Mrs. Wilford L. White
  • Dr. Belmont Farley

Pronouncers

  • Benson S. Alleman

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Mary Kathleen Bates
  • Patsy Bates
  • Bette Zoe Bliss
  • Ruth Ann Blue
  • Barbara Brickman
  • Robert Bunger
  • Brian Burroughs
  • Kathleen Butler
  • Sheila Cline
  • Walter Colby, III
  • Sarah Jean Collins
  • Carmella Marie Crawley
  • Mary Curry
  • Lillian Dotson
  • Franklin Fanning
  • Janet Farley
  • Bob Frank
  • Jeraldine Fries
  • Donald Ray Greenlee
  • James Gunter
  • Patricia M. Hebert
  • Mary Ann Heiselmann
  • Amelia Herrera
  • Elizabeth Hess
  • Carol Higby
  • Laurent Hodges
  • Dorothy Hopkins
  • David Hudson
  • John Hyman
  • Alta Jackson
  • Joy Ann James
  • Charlotte Anne Jenkins
  • Marilyn Jenson
  • Dena Kippen
  • Marlene Ann LaPointe
  • Mary Lindmark
  • Kathleen Lovett
  • Jonathan MacDonald
  • Alberta Micek
  • Donald Miles
  • John Monahan
  • Barbara Newell
  • Patricia Nolan
  • Joan Reiber
  • Beth Robinson
  • Valerie Ruehmann
  • Jane Sangster
  • Michael Schaefer
  • Larry Sharpe
  • Raymond A. Sokolov
  • Emily Tall
  • Beverly Ann Wood
  • John Woods

* Winner
** Runner-Up