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
  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. (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
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