1974

The 47th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 6th, 1974. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 80 spellers participated.

For the first time, the Finals were recorded and later aired on PBS.

Learn more

About the 47th Bee

Champion

Julie Ann Junkin

Gordo, Alabama

Julie Ann Junkin, age 12, sponsored by the Birmingham Post-Herald, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “hydrophyte.”

Julie married and became Julie Junkin Bedsole. She became a nurse and then an elementary school teacher.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

hydrophyte(n)

HAHY-druh-fahyt

a plant requiring an abundance of water for growth and growing in water or in soil too waterlogged for most other plants to survive.

This word is from originally Greek parts.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Richard R. Baker

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Patrick Austin
  • Bill Batchelor
  • Lisa Batey
  • Gary Blagg
  • Mike Bowen
  • Clare Brandys
  • David Cherry
  • Joyce Christopher
  • Jane Van Coney
  • Teresa Cowdrey
  • Cathy Crotty
  • Anne Curry
  • Paula L. De Armas
  • Mark Dewitt
  • Graham Drake
  • Terry L. Duran
  • Mark Eckenwiler
  • Mary Elizabeth Cassady
  • Marla Eppinga
  • Tara Farone
  • Mary B. Felton
  • Hermon Fleming
  • Mary Ellen Ford
  • Mary Fuka
  • Tony Genova Jr.
  • Luann Griess
  • Victor Hastings
  • Richard Hatley
  • David Hire
  • Layne Jenkins
  • Dustin Johnston
  • Mary Ann Jung
  • Julie Ann Junkin
  • Michael Kelley
  • Ethan Kent
  • Rebecca Keplinger
  • Jonathan Leach
  • Patrick Lehnerd
  • Pamela Livingston
  • Jack Long
  • Ross Lydiard
  • Glenn Margolis
  • Jeffrey Mayo
  • Lea Ann McClung
  • Patricia McCracken
  • Gail Meier
  • Margaret Miner
  • Leslie Mullen
  • Marc E. Needles
  • Gregory J. O’Brien
  • Cindy O’Connell
  • Kathleen O’Neill
  • Mark Ogle
  • Bonnie Painter
  • Tara Palamarik
  • Ron Palmer
  • Robert DI Paolo
  • Dan Postontnik
  • Camellia Jane Pratt
  • Ann Marie Quigley
  • Tom Quinn
  • Lourdes Quintana
  • Robert Redfern
  • Glenn H. Reynolds
  • William J. Rodriguez
  • John J. Shalhoub
  • John J. Skovron
  • Eileen Smith
  • Justin Taylor
  • Robert Tiso
  • Darlene Waggoner
  • Debra Walker
  • Harvey Warwick III
  • Roger Alan Watkins
  • Tracy Weatherby
  • Carolyn White
  • Shawn Whittington
  • Paige Woodruff
  • Kristi York
  • Annette Yurkovich

* Winner
** Runner-Up