42nd Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 42nd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 4–5, 1969, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

42nd Scripps National Spelling Bee
The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 42nd National Spelling Bee
DateJune 4–5, 1969
LocationThe Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
WinnerSusan Yoachum
Age14
ResidenceDallas, Texas
SponsorDallas Morning News
Sponsor locationDallas, Texas
Winning wordinterlocutory
No. of contestants73
PronouncerRichard R. Baker
Preceded by41st Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by43rd Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner was 14-year-old Susan Yoachum of Texas, an 8th grade student at Hill Junior High School in Dallas, with the winning word "interlocutory". Yoachum later became a well-regarded journalist, rising to the post of political editor at the San Francisco Chronicle. She died of breast cancer at age 43 in June 1998.[1]

Second place went to 14-year-old Margaret Matthees of Huntsville, Alabama, who fell on "egalitarian". David Groisser, age 12, of Brooklyn, finished third, misspelling "quoits" as "quytes".

First prize was $1000, second was $500, and third was $250.[2][3]

There were 73 contestants this year. In the first day of competition, 464 words were used over nine rounds and the field was reduced to 23 participants.[4] A total of 571 words were used by the end.[5]

References
  1. (23 June 1998). Susan Yoachum, S.F. Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle
  2. (5 June 1969). Texas Girl Captures Spelling Bee, Troy Times Record (UPI)
  3. (6 June 1969). Dallas Girl, 14, Wins National Spelling Contest with 'Luck', Chicago Tribune
  4. (5 June 1969). Name Dallas Girl Spelling Champ, El Paso Herald-Post
  5. Macino, Richard L. (2 June 1970). Champ Finds D.C. Capital Idea, Pittsburgh Press


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