1979

The 52nd Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 7th, 1979. It was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and 109 spellers participated.

Katie Kerwin won this Bee and later became a TV commentator for the Bee when it started broadcasting on ESPN.

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About the 52nd Bee

Champion

Katie Kerwin

Denver, Colorado

Katie Kerwin, age 13, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain News, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “maculature.”

Katie married and became Katie Kerwin McCrimmon. She was an analyst for the Bee on ESPN in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She was a writer for Solutions Health Policy in Denver.

Location

Mayflower Hotel

at the Grand Ballroom

Winning Word

maculature(n)

MAK-yuh-luh-chur

an impression made from an intaglio engraved plate to remove ink from the recessed areas.

This word was formed in French from a Latin part and a French combining form.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

  • Dr. Robert E. Baker
  • Leroy C. Dillard
  • Al Kuettner
  • Mary Brooks

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Richard R. Baker

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Lorraine Achterberg
  • Tracy Lee Adams
  • Donna Marie Allmon
  • David Atwood
  • Jae Barnett
  • Natalie J. Beddall
  • Mark Boley
  • Rudolfo Brown
  • Heather Buchman
  • Greg Burgman
  • Thomas E. Burns Jr
  • Peter Byrne
  • William Campbell
  • Leah Carmel
  • Hina Chaudhry
  • David Chiu
  • Sharon Chu
  • Tim Combs
  • Karen Jo Dahlby
  • Stacey Davis
  • Robbie Deaver
  • Mary K. Despres
  • Louella P. Dizon
  • Erika Dorsey
  • Chris Eberhart
  • Michelle Evatt
  • Simone Farmer
  • Kristine Faust
  • Thor Garber
  • Michelle Genecco
  • Julie George
  • Jennifer Gimler
  • Danny Graettinger
  • Michael Greenspan
  • Anne Louis Griffin
  • Bonnie Grotjahn
  • Pamela Hake
  • Bruce H. Hakes
  • Kim Hamby
  • Melissa Hamner
  • Lori Hampton
  • Vicki Haneckow
  • Keith Hennett
  • Stephine Hicks
  • Lydia Jagmohan
  • Lynette Jankowski
  • David Jeruzalmi
  • Jennifer Jones
  • Jon Josephson
  • Joseph F. Kenny
  • Katie Kerwin
  • David Kim
  • V. King
  • Jeffrey A. Kreider
  • Harvey S. Leverenz
  • Douglas F. Lim Jr.
  • Scott Lining
  • Sam Liu
  • Darrell Maurina
  • Mike McMullan
  • Carl Micarelli
  • Herman Miller
  • Carol Moeller
  • John L. Molinar
  • Monica Monk
  • Smitty Moore
  • Marbelia Moreno
  • Clifford Morrison
  • Owen J. Nuttall
  • Denise O’Donnell
  • Daniel Pak
  • Jannie Patnaude
  • Jon Pearson
  • Julie Polter
  • Bobbi Kay Ragon
  • Janine Rhodes
  • Eric Rillorta
  • Amy Roberts
  • Janice Rockmore
  • Deanna Rodriguez
  • Robert Roling
  • Christine Scheffer
  • AnnMarie Scholand
  • Kristen Schroeder
  • Lisa Rose Shalhoub
  • Michele Shouse
  • Elizabeth Simons
  • Alison R. Sleight
  • Cathy A. Smith
  • Marty Smith
  • Scott Snyder
  • Corinne Spencer
  • Sharon A. Stegmullerr
  • Rick Stout
  • Margaret M. Strader
  • James Surowiecki
  • Geralynne Tarnick
  • Barbara Tobias
  • Scott Vance
  • Larry Warner
  • Leslie Welke
  • Phillip Williamson
  • Jackie Witmer
  • Brute Wolf
  • Julie Won

* Winner
** Runner-Up