1972

The 45th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 8th, 1972. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 79 spellers participated.

Robin Kral had the chance to win after Lauren Pringle misspelled “polyonymous,” but Robin just couldn’t get it either. Lucky for him, Lauren then misspelled “garnett,” which Robin correctly spelled before spelling his championship word.

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About the 45th Bee

Champion

Robin Kral

Lamesa, Texas

Robin Kral, age 14, sponsored by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “macerate.”

Robin received a degree in biology for Texas Tech University and an MBA from the University of Utah. He later became associate director, venture development for UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and vice president of licensing and intellectual property for Reata Pharmaceuticals.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

macerate(v)

MAS-uh-rayt

to cause (solid matter) to become soft or separated into constituent elements by steeping in fluid.

This word is from Latin.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Richard R. Baker

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Angelica Allen
  • Rosallia Ananthanayagam
  • Susan Angy
  • Mary Van Atta
  • Alison Baldwin
  • Rebecca Barlow
  • Laurie Barnes
  • Nelson Bickers
  • Vickie Blake
  • Carol Bloodworth
  • John Botzum
  • Ernest Breitinger
  • Teresa Briggs
  • Patty Byrne
  • Amy Campbell
  • David Cherry
  • Joyce Christopher
  • Bruce Clare
  • Wendy Cohen
  • Laura Crafton
  • Jana Davis
  • Greg Dial
  • Maria Digiovanni
  • Joan Dragos
  • Irene Enoki
  • Lenore Favensi
  • Donna Francavage
  • Donna Frazier
  • Sharyl Gaiser
  • Laura Gick
  • David M. Green
  • Thomas Groeschen
  • Raymond Gwaltney
  • Michael Hancock
  • Karen Harding
  • Toni Hatten
  • Karen M. Hillyer
  • Kerry Jones
  • Mary Jones
  • Claire Kasak
  • Nancy Kellett
  • Dori Kerpan
  • Marshall Kirk
  • Linda Koenigsman
  • Robin Kral
  • Howard D. Lash
  • Sheila K. Lewis
  • Kabir Mahadeva
  • Meryl Mayhew
  • William B. Millard
  • Cheryl Millender
  • Keith Mondy
  • Michael Moody
  • Sydney Morris
  • Laurie Naster
  • Andrea Neal
  • Frank J. Perch Jr
  • Daniel L. Pick
  • James Piecuch
  • Lauren H. Pringle
  • Aprille Rigsbee
  • Eric Sohn
  • Johnny Stigall
  • Patty Sullivan
  • Mark Sullivan
  • Deirdre Sumpter
  • Amy Taylor
  • Barrie Trinkle
  • Robert L. Truitt Jr
  • Vincent Vaiano
  • Joseph J. Vissers
  • Terrance Walfoort Jr.
  • David Widner
  • Hoon T. Won
  • Miriam Woods
  • Peter Wozniak
  • Thomas Yamachika
  • Louise Ziegler

* Winner
** Runner-Up