1956

The 29th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on May 17th, 1956. It was held at the Department of Commerce Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 63 spellers participated.

In a 2003 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sachko said, “When I won I thought, ‘I finally get to the fun part now.'” Melody made an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and met Vice President Nixon. At home, she was celebrated with a motorcade and given a key to the city, which she felt was embarrassing.

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About the 28th Bee

Champion

Melody Sachko

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Melody Sachko, age 13, sponsored by The Pittsburgh Press, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “condominium.”

Melody graduated from Duquesne University with degrees in education and French. She was a teacher and then worked for Reynolds Metals for 32 years before retiring.

Location

Department of Commerce Auditorium

Winning Word

condominium(n)

kahn-duh-MIN-ee-um

a multi-unit structure with individual ownership of units (such as an apartment building) or on land owned in common (such as a town house complex).

This word is from Latin.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Charles Schneider

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Benson S. Alleman

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Carole Ann Bell
  • Barry Benedict
  • Martin Edgar Berger
  • Betty Sue Boyd
  • Mark Braford, Jr.
  • Edward J. Brazil
  • Alexandra Bylczynski
  • Catherine Carl
  • Karin Carter
  • Claire Christian
  • Ethel Clow
  • Dale L. Cole
  • Bob Colson
  • Nancy Craig
  • Robert Davis
  • Clyde W. Dawson
  • Thomas J. Egan, Jr.
  • Mark Elson
  • Peter Fatula
  • Carol Francis
  • John M. Fyler
  • Don Goelman
  • Letty May Goodman
  • Clyde Gregory
  • Catherine Guerry
  • Dennis Hallinan
  • Francis John Hummel, Jr.
  • Jane Humphrey
  • Johnny Julian
  • Cynthia Kertos
  • Carol Louise Kettler
  • Ralph Knoohuizen
  • Ronald Kramer
  • Roger W. Lewis, Jr.
  • Duncan Lloyd
  • David Meyers
  • Marie Nesthus
  • Jim Norton
  • George O’Keefe
  • Sandra Owen
  • Ronni Perry
  • Nancy Marie Pink
  • Barry Plott
  • Anneil Poore
  • Connie Annette Pruit
  • Caroline Raack
  • Michael Richards
  • Martha Rosler
  • Melody Sachko
  • John Scanlon
  • Stephen Stoan
  • Guy Strickland
  • Michael Swirsky
  • Arnold Vasquez
  • Sharon Vater
  • Elizabeth Ann Veale
  • Edward Waller, Jr.
  • John Ware
  • Ann Malone Warren
  • John Webber
  • Maureen Weeks
  • Jean Wells
  • Billie Williams

* Winner
** Runner-Up