1959

The 32nd Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 11th and 12th, 1959. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 70 spellers participated.

In this year, the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel began selling a study booklet containing the Bee rules, pictures from Bee events and over 2,500 words. The price was just 15 cents.

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About the 32nd Bee

Champion

Joel Montgomery

Byers, Colorado

Joel Montgomery, age 12, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain News, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “catamaran.”

Joel became a copy editor and, later, copy desk chief and assistant city editor at The Albuquerque Tribune. He also served in the Peace Corps in Morocco. He also was the regional partner representative for the Tribune speller in 1977.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

catamaran(n)

KAT-uh-muh-ran

a fast pleasure boat having two hulls joined by a framework that supports the mast or motor.

This word is from Tamil.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Richard D. Peters

Judges

  • William Harold Martin
  • Dr. Belmont Farley
  • Mrs. Bessie W. Cramer

Pronouncers

  • Benson S. Alleman

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Betty Jo Abel
  • Gerardo Aguirre
  • Charlotte Ballard
  • Laurel Beckett
  • Paul Callaghan
  • Doris Ann Cearley
  • Cathy Coates
  • Robert Crossley
  • Rodger Cunningham
  • Sherwin Davidson
  • Susan C. Davis
  • Diane Denmeade
  • Jade Early
  • Thomas Edgar
  • Forest Evans
  • Robert Evans
  • Henry Feldman
  • Gerald Fink
  • Jamie Lou Fuller
  • Frank Gootee
  • Irvin D. Gordon
  • Karen Grimm
  • Diane Haas
  • Sheila Hallissy
  • Janet Harrington
  • Elaine Hassell
  • James A. Haw
  • Sam Hergert
  • Leo Hodges
  • Ruth Hoover
  • Beth Hyde
  • Jean Jones
  • John Kennedy
  • Susan Kirssin
  • Allan Lee Kramer
  • Valdis Launags
  • Cynthia Lehr
  • Judi Lempert
  • Thomas E. Lewis
  • Roger B. Ley
  • Pamela Long
  • Frederick Mannausau
  • Michael McFadden
  • Jeanette McGhee
  • Kathleen McWilliams
  • Marilynne Meyers
  • Charles Mickey
  • Alice Jane Moncus
  • Joel Montgomery
  • Tracy Nabers
  • John Nelson
  • David Nelson
  • Kevin North
  • Stephen E. Ollis
  • Robert Peskac
  • Phillip Plemmons
  • Roberta Reed
  • Beth Seberger
  • Joanne Sheahan
  • Douglas Smith
  • Virginia L. Smith
  • Barbara Strauss
  • Margaret Tanita
  • Elizabeth K. Tracy
  • John A. Van Osdol
  • Georgette Wadsworth
  • Jean Waycaster
  • Deborah Weissman
  • Frances Whitehurst
  • Walter Wisniewski

* Winner
** Runner-Up