26th Scripps National Spelling Bee | |
---|---|
Date | May 21, 1953 |
Location | Department of Commerce auditorium, Washington, D.C. |
Winner | Elizabeth Hess |
Age | 13 |
Residence | Arizona |
Sponsor | Arizona Republic |
Sponsor location | Phoenix, Arizona |
Winning word | soubrette |
No. of contestants | 53 |
Pronouncer | Benson S. Alleman |
Preceded by | 25th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
Followed by | 27th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 26th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 21, 1953, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.
The winner was 13-year-old Elizabeth Hess of Arizona, correctly spelling the word soubrette.[1] 11-year-old Raymond A. Sokolov of Detroit, Michigan placed second, falling on "spermaceti", after finishing 22nd the prior year.[1] Third place went to 13-year-old David Hudson of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who had placed sixth the prior year.[1]
There were 53 contestants this year, 37 girls and 16 boys. Four were returning spellers, and the youngest speller this year was 11.[2] 541 words were used. The contest started at 8:45 am and continued until 5:40pm except for a lunch break and brief recesses.[3][4][5]
As of 2018, Hess is the only speller from Arizona to have ever won the Bee.[6]