9th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 9th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 1933, organized by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.

9th National Spelling Bee
{
DateMay 30, 1933
LocationNational Museum in Washington, D.C.
WinnerAlma Roach
Age12
ResidenceTwinsburg, Ohio
SponsorAkron Beacon Journal
Sponsor locationAkron, Ohio
Winning wordtorsion
No. of contestants16[1]
PronouncerCharles E. Hill and H.E. Warner[2]
Preceded by8th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by10th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner was 12-year-old Alma Roach of Twinsburg, Ohio, sponsored by the Akron Beacon Journal, correctly spelling the word torsion. George Meltzer (age 14) of New Jersey placed second[3] (missing propitiatory), followed by 13-year-old Virginia Wood in third (missing holocaust).[4]

Roach won $500 for first place (a drop from the usual $1000), followed by $300 for second, and $100 for third.[4]

The event was broadcast on radio.[5]

Roach (married name Mercer) became a teacher, retiring from Solon Middle School in her hometown of Twinsburg in 1983. She died at Akron General Hospital on July 31, 2003.[6]

References

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  1. ^ (12 June 1933). Returning Heroine, Nevada Stage Journal, p. 5, col 7 ("Being able to spell 'propitiatory' when the other 15 best spellers in the United States couldn't ...")
  2. ^ (25 May 1933). Can Ask for Definitions, Wilkes-Barre Record
  3. ^ (15 October 2012). George Meltzer (obituary), The Jersey Journal
  4. ^ a b (30 May 1933). Paper's National Spelling Bee Won By Akron Girl, 12, Schenectady Gazette
  5. ^ (28 May 1933). On WABC, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
  6. ^ (2 August 2003). Alma R. (Roach) Mercer (obituary), Akron Beacon-Journal