1982

The 55th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on June 3rd, 1982. It was held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., and 126 spellers participated.

Molly Dieveney, the 1982 champion, was coached by 1980 champion Jacques Bailly’s mother; they were next-door neighbors!

About the 55th Bee

Champion

Molly Dieveney

Denver, Colorado

Molly Dieveney, age 12, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain News, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “psoriasis.”

Molly married and became Molly Dieveney Baker. She attended Yale University, then worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston and then as a reporter at the Wall Street Journal. She became chief operating officer and a writer at an investment management firm.

Location

Capital Hilton

at the Presidential Ballroom

Winning Word

psoriasis(n)

suh-RAHY-uh-sis

a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales.

This word is from Latin, which took it from Greek.

OFFICIALS

Directors

James H. Wagner

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Alex J. Cameron
  • Dr. Caesar A. Carrino

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Tom Amrine
  • Norwood Andrews III
  • Deborah Auer
  • Barbara Balance
  • Ranhy Bang
  • Dana Beard
  • Michon Bechamps
  • Kari Jean Benson
  • Kristi Bierschbach
  • Peter Blaustien
  • Elena Brokaw
  • Jennifer Lynn Burns
  • Homer Cantu
  • Jesus Celorio
  • An-Jen Chen
  • Pauline Chiou
  • Cynthia Clendinen
  • Michele B. Colaw
  • Renee Cordonnier
  • Michele Cumberland
  • Cindy Dagesse
  • Toni Dagstino
  • Philip A. Damasiewicz
  • Lawanna Davis
  • Rodney Defenbaugh
  • Gwen Dell
  • Molly Dieveney
  • Ellen Edgerton
  • David Edwards
  • David Eichhron
  • Jeanine Q. Erb
  • Alvaro A. Fernadez
  • Tom Finnerty Jr.
  • Sarah Elizabeth Forrest
  • Vicci Gercher
  • Mary Grace Gibbs
  • David N. Golden Jr
  • Rita Gross
  • Tamara Gull
  • Michelle Hancock
  • Lu Ann Hartley
  • Christine Hawes
  • Julie Hilden
  • Leroy M. Hillegas
  • Michele Hoggatt
  • Cheryl Hosley
  • Paul Huizenga
  • Dave Hunter
  • Melissa Hurley
  • Karen Hydier
  • Sue Im
  • Mary Jane Ingram
  • Jason Johnson
  • Kelley Jones
  • Mitchell Kalauli
  • Laura Kersey
  • Jonathan Kluttz
  • Randi L. Langworthy
  • Charleston W. Lewis
  • Sarah Lindsay
  • Stephen Liss
  • Diana Long
  • Greg Manabat
  • Edward Sta. Maria
  • Janice Martha Pang
  • Kenneth Masse
  • Tauna Lynn May
  • Art Mayorga
  • Chris McFarlane
  • Elisabeth McMahon
  • Deborah Allison Meyers
  • Jennifer Lynne Miller
  • David Miller
  • James Moore
  • Alice Ann Moore
  • Dell Moore
  • Vince Nowinski
  • Lucy O’Malley
  • Rosie O’neill
  • Anne M. Obermeyer
  • Carolyn Orban
  • Keena Pack
  • Christopher Perkins
  • Dina Petroski
  • Karen Latrenda Powell
  • Jamie Provchy
  • Rowena Quodala
  • Jennifer Ramos
  • Eric Rauchway
  • Shannon Reed
  • Jennifer E. Rinden
  • Uma Rao
  • Kathy Roberts
  • Allen Rostron
  • Avril Rough
  • Chris Russell
  • Kristen Schroeder
  • Kristin Sheldon
  • Mara Shlackman
  • Erik R. Smith
  • Tanya Zahava Solomon
  • Shelby Stenerson
  • Donna Stenzel
  • Sheldon Stewart
  • Carol Lee Stott
  • Annette Strunk
  • Stephanie Thonn
  • Tram Thuy Tran
  • Anne Marie Treadup
  • Kara Trowbridge
  • Gus Vahlkamp
  • Alexandra Van Ryn
  • Kelly Wadsworth
  • Jana Wall
  • Wade Walla
  • Rebekah Wantz
  • Debra Warder
  • Jason Marc Weinstein
  • Scott Whitmore
  • Kelsey Wickliffe
  • Matthew D. Wilber
  • Esther Elise Wirth
  • Christina Wohlert
  • Cathy Wranovix
  • Michael York
  • Angie Zakrzewski

* Winner
** Runner-Up