1962

The 35th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 6th and 7th, 1962. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 70 spellers participated.

Nettie Crawford and Mike Day competed head-to-head for an hour before being declared co-champions of the 1962 Bee. The competition did not end in a tie again until 2014!

Learn more

About the 35th Bee

Champion

Nettie Crawford

Roswell, New Mexico

Nettie Crawford, age 13, sponsored by the El Paso Herald-Post, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “esquamulose.”

Champion

Michael Day

Hardin, Illinois

Michael Day, age 14, sponsored by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “esquamulose.”

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

esquamulose(adj)

ee-SKWAY-myuh-lohs

not covered with or consisting of minute scales.

The first part of this word is an element that went from Latin to French to English; the second part is Latin; and the last part went from Latin to English.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Richard R. Baker

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Kathy Akin
  • Ann F. Barbick
  • Linda Mae Beverage
  • Jill Beves
  • Mary Ellen Brewer
  • Barbara Brugnaux
  • Cynthia Cahn
  • Antoinette Cataldi
  • Casey Charness, Jr.
  • Joyce Conrad
  • Karen Corso
  • James C. Cox
  • Thomas A. Coyle
  • Nettie Crawford
  • Michael Cummings
  • Michael Day
  • Janie Dockery
  • Michael Ford
  • Kay Gardner
  • Joan Goepfert
  • Joan Griggs
  • Janis J. Heim
  • Edwin W. Herr
  • Therese Horvat
  • Deborah Ann Howell
  • Leslie Hsu
  • Barbara Hymes
  • Carryl Inlow
  • Mark Keating
  • Christine Kiefer
  • Peggi Kunz
  • David Leyenson
  • Lucretia Liberatore
  • Pam Lieser
  • Mark Lloyd
  • Carmeleen Maggipinto
  • John Manning
  • Gerald Maple
  • Larry Mays
  • Karen McComas
  • Andy McFadden
  • Daniel Morneau
  • Delight Ousley
  • Baker Armstrong Peeples
  • Lyn Peery
  • Marcia Petzinger
  • Robert Planisek
  • Pamela Poggiani
  • Michael Lynn Randolph
  • Becky Richardson
  • Darlene Ropchok
  • Vivian Salazar
  • Peter Shannon
  • Richard S. Siluk
  • Janet Silverblatt
  • Mary Simone
  • Beatrice Slotnick
  • Judy Smith
  • Barbara Steckler
  • Carolyn Stevens
  • Roberta Thomas
  • David Thompson
  • Frances Treadaway
  • Sharon R. Veach
  • Nancy Suzette Walker
  • Mary Ruth Watkins
  • Katrin Watt
  • Kristi Wigstadt
  • Bencie Woll
  • Susan Woulfe

* Winner
** Runner-Up