1977

The 50th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 9th, 1977. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 94 spellers participated.

Frank Neuhauser, the first-ever winner, attended the 50th occurrence of the Bee, which had grown significantly from its humble beginnings with just nine national competitors.

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About the 50th Bee

Champion

John Paola

Glenshaw, Pennsylvania

John Paola, age 13, sponsored by The Pittsburgh Press, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “cambist”.

John attended Michigan State and Ohio State universities before becoming a veterinarian.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

cambist(n)

KAM-bist

one who deals in bills of exchange or who is skilled in the science and practice of exchange.

This word is from Italian-derived French.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Richard R. Baker

SPELLER ROSTER

  • David Aroesty
  • Alison Azar
  • Sandi Baldwin
  • Christopher D. Ballew
  • Johnny Barfield
  • Scott Barvian
  • Steve Bauer
  • Sally Bennett
  • Lisa Blankenship
  • Carol Boiseau
  • Lyndon Bond
  • Miriam Bonet
  • Thomas Cadorette
  • Philip C. Carli
  • Rick Clements
  • Christina L. Colando
  • Kimberly Coleman
  • Robert Collett
  • Mareen Corbett
  • Anne Corbett
  • Betsy Cottle
  • Arlene DeGannes
  • Martin Dormio
  • Marica Fastman
  • Cheryl Ann Foss
  • Melissa Foster
  • Kristi Franklin
  • Joseph Fumic
  • Amanda Gerdeman
  • Stephan Glasgow
  • Linda Joy Gowen
  • Steve Greer
  • Phil Guimond
  • Katherine Hadow
  • Erica Harvey
  • Sherri Hearn
  • Kelly Hill
  • Julie Hout
  • Gary W. Hubbard
  • Lisa Jenio
  • Grace Jeon
  • Rhonda Jones
  • Gene Kwan
  • Jana Labib
  • Laura J. LaRue
  • Ian Leong
  • Elizabeth Lewis
  • Melinda Lilly
  • Wendy Lin
  • Hila Maceda
  • Edward J. Magalong
  • Gwenyth Mapes
  • Gregory Maresh
  • Elizabeth Anne McCullough
  • Michael McCullough
  • Carl McMann
  • Jon Michael Mann
  • Lori Miller
  • Laura Mosley
  • Bruce Murray
  • Joan O’Leary
  • Torin Owens
  • Erin Page
  • John Paola
  • Jon Pearson
  • Jill Pryor
  • Elizabeth Redmonf
  • Rosemary Reilly
  • Carrie Rerucha
  • Pamela Rhodes
  • Greg Robins
  • Beverly Sanford
  • Denise A. Scaglione
  • Jana Schroeder
  • Alan Scott
  • Randy Shane
  • Lori Shollenberger
  • Lori Skarbinski
  • Diane Spencer
  • Matthew Reed Stafford
  • Roxanne Taylor
  • Mary E. Thombs
  • Joyce Thompson
  • Doug Varley
  • Paul Vassil
  • Theresa D. Walla
  • Greg R. Walsh
  • Eugene Walton IV
  • Mimi Wang
  • Karin Weng
  • Mike Williams
  • Jana Winters
  • Robert Yost
  • Robert Zeiger

* Winner
** Runner-Up