38th Scripps National Spelling Bee

38th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Date June 9–10, 1965
Winner Michael Kerpan, Jr.
Age 12
Residence Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sponsor Tulsa Tribune
Sponsor location Tulsa, Oklahoma
Winning word eczema
No. of contestants 70
Preceded by 37th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by 39th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 38th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. on June 9–10, 1965, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

70 contestants participated in the competition. 7th grader 12-year old Michael Kerpan, Jr., from Tulsa, Oklahoma, sponsored by the Tulsa Tribune, won the competition by correctly spelling the word "eczema" after 17 rounds.[1] Judy Guarr of Topeka, Kansas took second place.[2] As of 2015, Kerpan is the last of two winners from Oklahoma, the first being John Capehart in the 1961 bee.[2][3]

Second place went to 12-year old Judy Marie Guarr of Kansas who missed "larghetto" after a long battle with Kerpan.[3] Third place was taken by 13-year old Ralph Moore of Ohio.[3][4]

There were 70 contestants this year, ranging from 11 to 15 years old, evenly split with 35 boys and 35 girls, from 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam.[5] Three finalists returned from the prior year's bee.[6]

Future Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke was eliminated on the word edelweiss, finishing 26th.[7]

The first place prize was $1,000 (along with a trip to New York City to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and $100 in spending money). A total of $5,700 in prizes were awarded to all spellers.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Champions and Their Winning Words
  2. 1 2 Stanley, Tim (1 November 2014). Former national champion speller from Tulsa reflects on his winning run, Tulsa World
  3. 1 2 3 (10 June 1965). Boy Strikes Winning Chord in Spelling Bee, Toledo Blade
  4. ↑ Coyne, Joseph R. (11 June 1965). Boy Scout, 12 Tops National Spelling Bee, Telegraph (Associated Press)
  5. 1 2 (9 June 1965). 38th Annual Spelling Bee Contest Begins, Rome News-Tribune (Associated Press)
  6. ↑ (9 June 1965). Spelling Contest to Begin Today, Beaver County Times (UPI)
  7. ↑ White, Ben (15 November 2005). Bernanke Unwrapped, Washington Post


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