| 17th Scripps National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 28, 1941 |
| Location | Auditorium of the National Press Building |
| Winner | Louis Edward Sissman |
| Age | 13 |
| Residence | Detroit, Michigan |
| Sponsor | The Detroit News |
| Sponsor location | Detroit, Michigan |
| Winning word | initials |
| No. of contestants | 29[1] |
| Preceded by | 16th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 18th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 17th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 28, 1941. This was the first year that Scripps-Howard (now E.W. Scripps Company) hosted the event.
The winner was 13-year-old Louis Edward Sissman of Detroit, Michigan, correctly spelling the word initials.[1] Phyllis Davis of Ohio placed second, misspelling "chrysanthemum" (which Sissman proceeded to spell correctly), and third went to 13-year-old Homer Lyon, Jr., of Miami, Florida, who fell on "ague".[1][2]
The first place prize was $500, followed by $300 for second.[1]
As of 2017, Sissman is the only winner of the Bee from Michigan.[3] At the time of his win, it was widely reported that he was the first boy to win since 1927, apparently overlooking that Ward Randall won in 1931, which was still a ten-year gap.[4]
- ^ a b c d (29 May 1941). Detroit Boy is Champ Speller, St. Petersburg Times (Associated Press)
- ^ Boys in the News, Boys' Life (August 1941) (No. 7 on page 25 is a picture of Sissman with Dr. W. Hayes Yeager)
- ^ (2 June 2017). Local student reflects on spelling bee experience, Grand Haven Tribune
- ^ (7 June 1941). 14 Year Upset, St. Cloud Times (incorrectly reporting, consistent with other stories, that Sissman was first male winner since 1927)