49th Scripps National Spelling Bee

49th Scripps National Spelling Bee

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The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 49th National Spelling Bee
Date June 9-10, 1976
Location The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Winner Tim Kneale
Sponsor Syracuse Herald-Journal
Sponsor location Syracuse, New York
Winning word narcolepsy
No. of contestants 87
Preceded by 48th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by 50th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 49th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 9-10, 1976, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 13-year old Tim Kneale of Nedrow, New York, winning on the word "narcolepsy" in the 21st round. Second place went to 13-year old Rachel Wachtel of Wooster, Ohio, who missed "yarborough." Both missed "emmetropia" and "chorography" in prior rounds before "yarborough" was used. Third place was captured by 13-year old William Mulhern of Marysville, Kansas, who fell on "balletomane."[1][2][3][4]

The correct words spelled by Kneale also included: fatigue, conceit, opalescent, carafe, egalitarian, supernumerary, persiflage, literati, aphotic, bellipotent, physiolatry, demulcent, hagiology, and sauerbraten.[2]

A record 87 contestants participated this year, up from 79 in 1975 and 80 in 1974.[5] There were 49 girls and 38 boys ranging in age from 10 to 14. There were two repeat spellers, both from the prior year, the smallest number since 1970.[5] Sixty were eliminated in the first day of competition.[1] 525 total words were used this year.[2]

John Paola, who finished 22nd, would go on to win the next year.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 (10 June 1976). 'Narcolepsy' is the winning word, Ellensburg Daily Record (UPI)
  2. 1 2 3 Macino, Dick (11 June 1976). Wait Till Next Year, Defeated Speller Says, Pittsburgh Press
  3. ↑ Cohen, Richard (1 July 1976). Spelling plagues columnist, Spokesman-Review
  4. ↑ Munroe, Mary (22 June 1976). Report from Washington, Virgin Islands Daily News (Washington News Bureau)
  5. 1 2 (9 June 1976). National Spelling Bee begins today, The Dispatch (Lexington, North Carolina)(UPI)
  6. ↑ Williams, Juan (10 June 1977). Sesquipedalian Speller Triumphs at Spelling Bee, Washington Post
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