1957

The 30th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 7th, 1957. It was held at the Department of Commerce Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 67 spellers participated.

The competition and eventual tie between Sandra Owen and Dana Bennett lasted from 9 a.m. to 6:55 p.m., taking so long that it was reorganized the following year to become a two-day event for the first time.

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About the 30th Bee

Champion

Sandra Owen

Navarre, Ohio

Sandra Owen, age 14, sponsored by the Canton Repository, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “schappe.”

Champion

Dana Bennett

Byers, Colorado

Dana Bennett, age 13, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain News, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “schappe.”

Location

Department of Commerce Auditorium

Winning Word

schappe(n)

SHAH-puh

a yarn or fabric of spun silk.

This word is from German.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Richard D. Peters

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Benson S. Alleman

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Gloria Jean Baysden
  • Carole Ann Bell
  • Francis E. Bellizia, Jr.
  • Dana Bennett
  • Mary M. Cashore
  • Carole Lynn Cook
  • Daniel Corbett
  • Charlene Cox
  • Ann Crutcher
  • Diane Davenport
  • Linda Duer
  • Barbara Fagan
  • Joan Feldman
  • Kenneth Finkel
  • Anne Marie Gailushas
  • Mary Gilliland
  • Brenda Greene
  • Richard Hire
  • Robert M. Hunter
  • Vann Hyatt
  • Roy Ivy, Jr.
  • Leslie Jensen
  • Stephen Johnson
  • Mary Evelyn Jones
  • Mike Kelley
  • Ralph Knoohuizen
  • Jaqueline E. Laferte
  • Carolyn Lawrence
  • Richard Lucas
  • John Lyon
  • David Marain
  • Richard Martinez
  • Marjorie Gail McCaleb
  • Mary Ann McKernon
  • William McLauren
  • Sean Mewhinney
  • Karen Minsinger
  • Juliette Mosser
  • Anne Muller
  • Robert Nardino
  • Patty Ceil Nash
  • Stephen Nichols
  • John Nienkemper
  • Marianne Novy
  • Sandra Owen
  • Joan Paquette
  • Elvira Luz Perez
  • Karen Persells
  • Mary Jane Rienzi
  • Vincent Roach
  • Mary Ellene Salmon
  • Jolitta Schlehuber
  • Stanley Schmidt
  • Rienhard E. Schultz, Jr.
  • Lucy Seiver
  • Susan Shaw
  • Anne Shearer
  • Sharon Siens
  • Fred Souk
  • Richard Stegman
  • Dianne Stratton
  • Rita Taylor
  • Bill Thomas
  • Judy Venoy
  • Donna Walter
  • Paul W. Willis
  • Nicholas Zirpolo

* Winner
** Runner-Up