1971

The 44th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 10th, 1971. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 77 spellers participated.

Jonathan Knisely was the first speller from New Jersey to win the Bee.

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About the 44th Bee

Champion

Jonathan Knisely

Mullica Hill, New Jersey

Jonathan Knisely, age 12, sponsored by the Philadelphia Bulletin, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “shalloon.”

Jonathan went to Yale University. He later became an associate professor at the Yale University School of Medicine and a radiation oncologist.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

shalloon(n)

shuh-LOON

a lightweight twilled fabric of wool or worsted used chiefly for linings of coats and uniforms.

This word is from a French geographical name.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

  • Dr. Robert E. Baker
  • Leroy C. Dillard
  • John H. Lloyd

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Richard R. Baker

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Mark Alessandra
  • Kathy Allen
  • Rosalia Ananthanayagam
  • Susan Baker
  • James Ballenger II
  • Edward Barton
  • Mark Blosser
  • Cathy Brewer
  • Teresa Briggs
  • Gordon Calderwood
  • Leonora Carrett
  • Barbara Carter
  • Kim Chaloupka
  • Debra Chase
  • George Cheney
  • Doug Clark
  • Kathy Collmer
  • Julie Conason
  • Carolyn Cross
  • Bradley Daub
  • Douglas Edwards
  • James Ellenson
  • Gary Fisher
  • Brian Fowler
  • Susan Frauenheim
  • Marcie Gitlin
  • Paul Glasser
  • Vicki Goldsberry
  • Thomas Groeschen
  • Ann Harrison
  • Jennifer Heymoss
  • Janet Hickman
  • Brenda Hockaday
  • Fred Horn
  • Steve Houston
  • Sarah Johnson
  • David Johnstone
  • Mary Jones
  • Tiina Kirss
  • Lisa Klein
  • Jonathan Knisely
  • Michaela Kostelecky
  • James Laurin
  • Theresa Limtiaco
  • Kathryn Lin
  • Maridene Margolis
  • Donna Martin
  • Alexis McCann
  • Theresa Milazzo
  • Melody Mumma
  • George Nyhoff
  • Susan O’Malley
  • Judith Ornstein
  • Rebecca Ozburn
  • Cregg Palmer
  • Elizabeth Patterson
  • Linda Perry
  • Linda Ponce
  • Luis Rigual
  • Thomas Ruby
  • Mindy Sampson
  • Donna Schulze
  • Susan Scott
  • Deborah Searcy
  • Valerie Smith
  • Nan Sutter
  • Cynthia Tanner
  • Janet Thomas
  • Elizabeth Thurlow
  • Carol Lee Tipton
  • Barrie Trinkle
  • Terri Trinkner
  • John Walsh
  • Gayle Weinraub
  • Kellie Whittaker
  • Roberta Witt
  • Beverly Wright

* Winner
** Runner-Up