1976

The 49th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 10th, 1976. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 86 spellers participated.

The Bee continues growing in popularity and participation with a new record of 87 national competitors in 1976.

Learn more

About the 49th Bee

Champion

Tim Kneale

Nedrow, New York

Tim Kneale, age 13, sponsored by the Syracuse Herald-Journal-American, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “narcolepsy.”

Tim graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and became a chemical engineer.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

narcolepsy(n)

NAHR-kuh-lep-see

a condition characterized by a transient compulsive tendency to attacks of deep sleep.

This word is made up of 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

  • Lisa Yvette Alea
  • Renee Augustine
  • Alison Azar
  • Joseph H. Ball
  • Barbara Barrett
  • Diana Ben-Aaron
  • Deborah Capuano
  • Monica Chambers
  • William Cheng
  • Joe Chew
  • Beth Cline
  • Clayton Colwell
  • Steve Compton
  • Joanne Crean
  • Anne Curry
  • Timothy E. Davidson
  • Susan Dudash
  • Rob Emery
  • John Fawcett
  • Stephen Fitzgerald
  • Edwin L. Fountain
  • Kristi Franklin
  • Renee Georges
  • Carlo Gleichauf
  • Susan Goodwin
  • Linda Grabner
  • Barbara Graves
  • Katharine Hadow
  • Sharon Hughes
  • Clay Jones
  • Ronnie Kalb
  • Dennis Kelly
  • Sheri Klearman
  • Tim Kneale
  • Mary Elaine Kostel
  • Charles Lansville
  • Sandra Laursen
  • Richard M. Lewis
  • Susan Lloyd
  • Rick Malette
  • Glenn Margolis
  • Robert A. Mason
  • Elizabeth Ann McCarthy
  • Augstin Mena III
  • William J. Mercurio Jr
  • Karl Mitze
  • Carol Moore
  • Wlliam M. Mulhern
  • Joseph H. Mullenax
  • Steven Novick
  • John Paola
  • Douglas J. Parker
  • Marica Pashal
  • Donna Perry
  • David Pogue
  • Cecile Poulin
  • Colleen Preston
  • Amy Reiss
  • Debbie Reynolds
  • Randy Richter
  • Charles L. Roesel
  • Bill Runkel
  • Beverly Sanford
  • Karl J. Schmuck
  • Authur Schultz
  • Polo Sengupta
  • Laura Simons
  • Bess M. Sirmon
  • Holly Teutemacher
  • Sandra Thornton
  • Gayle Turim
  • Kristine Turnbull
  • David Turphen
  • Rosemary Vogt
  • Rachel Wachtel
  • Cindy Walker
  • Randy Wallen
  • Cristina N. Waller
  • Mary Beth Walsh
  • Douglas Weingart
  • Karen White
  • Stacy Whiteman
  • Teresa Whitley
  • June Wong
  • Becky Wood
  • Pamela Yee

* Winner
** Runner-Up