44th Scripps National Spelling Bee

44th Scripps National Spelling Bee

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The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 44th National Spelling Bee
Date June 9–10, 1971
Location The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Winner Jonathan Knisely
Age 12
Residence Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Sponsor Philadelphia Bulletin
Sponsor location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Winning word shalloon
No. of contestants 77[1]
Preceded by 43rd Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by 45th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 44th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 9–10, 1971, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.[2]

Jonathan Knisely of Mullica Hill, New Jersey won the competition, sponsored by the Philadelphia Bulletin. He was followed by Susan O'Malley, 13, of Arizona in second place (misspelling "gigot" as starting with a "j"), and Carolyn Cross of Stow, Ohio in third.[3][4]

There were 77 contestants this year, 53 girls and 24 boys. The competition lasted 17 rounds, with O'Malley missing the first word she received once the field was narrowed down to two.[1]

Knisely was the first resident of New Jersey to win the national bee, which would not claim another winner until the 2006 bee.[5] Knisely's brother Alexander finished 17th in the 1967 bee.[4]

Knisely appears in the 2002 documentary Spellbound, where he says "I don't think [winning] really helped me in my love life — my nascent love life. I mean, something like that could be considered something of a liability."[6]

References

  1. 1 2 (10 June 1971). New Jersey Youth Wins Spelling Bee, Freeport Journal-Standard (Associated Press)
  2. ↑ Lamica, Louise (11 June 1971). Congressmen fete regional spelling champ, Wilmington Star-News
  3. ↑ (12 June 1971). National Spelling Bee Winners Honored, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
  4. 1 2 (10 June 1971). If you can spell 'gigot' you're king, Desert Sun
  5. ↑ Capuzzo, Jill (3 June 2006). For New Jersey 8th Grader, 'Ursprache' Means Fame, The New York Times
  6. ↑ Keane, Meghan (7 May 2007). Take Heart, Weirdos, New York Sun


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