51st Scripps National Spelling Bee
{
The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 51st National Spelling Bee
DateJune 7–8, 1978
LocationThe Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
WinnerPeg McCarthy
Age13
ResidenceTopeka, Kansas
SponsorThe Topeka Capital-Journal
Sponsor locationTopeka, Kansas
Winning worddeification
No. of contestants106
PronouncerRichard R. Baker
Preceded by50th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by52nd Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 51st Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 7–8, 1978, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 13-year-old Peg McCarthy of Topeka, Kansas, on the word "deification". Second place went to 12-year old Lyn Sue Kahng of San Diego, California, who missed "crescive".[1][2] Third place went to Julie Won of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania who missed "fecund".[3] Won took 2nd place the next year, where Won lost on the word "virescence".

There were 106 spellers this year (another record as usual during this era), made up of 58 girls and 48 boys, from ages 10 to 14.[4] The competition was whittled down to 76 spellers after three rounds, and 23 of them survived into the finals.[1][5]

McCarthy was the third winner from Kansas, following Jolitta Schlehuber in the 1958 bee and Robert Walters in the 1968 bee.[6]

Richard R. Baker served as pronouncer.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 (9 June 1978). Spelling bee winner gives part of the credit to luck, St. Petersburg Times (Associated Press)
  2. ↑ (8 June 1978). Agony of victory (photo), Daily News (Associated Press)
  3. ↑ (10 June 1978). No Fear for '78 Champ, The Hour (UPI)
  4. ↑ (7 June 1978). 106 Youngsters Complete Today in Spelling Bee, Sumter Daily Item (Associated Press)
  5. ↑ (8 June 1978). 76 Continue Spelling Bee Today, Lakeland Ledger (Associated Press)
  6. ↑ (29 March 1988). Bee Spelled Victory for Local Resident, Lawrence Journal-World
  7. ↑ (9 June 1978). The Spelling Bee: Angst to Zeal, The Washington Post


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