48th Scripps National Spelling Bee

48th Scripps National Spelling Bee
{
The Mayflower Hotel, site of the 48th National Spelling Bee
DateJune 4–5, 1975
LocationThe Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
WinnerHugh Tosteson García
Age14
ResidenceSan Germán, Puerto Rico
SponsorThe San Juan Star
Sponsor locationSan Juan, Puerto Rico
Winning wordincisor
No. of contestants79[1]
PronouncerRichard R. Baker
Preceded by47th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by49th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 48th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 4–5, 1975, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 14-year-old Hugh Tosteson García of Puerto Rico, who correctly spelled "incisor" in the 27th round for the win. Garcia was the first winner from outside the fifty states of the United States, and the only such winner until the 1998 Bee.[2][1] Second place went to 14-year-old Mark Ogle of Greenwood, Indiana, who missed "brilliantine". Only the two contestants were left after the 20th round.[1][3]

A total of 597 words were used in the competition, the same as the prior year.[1] There were 79 contestants this year. On the first day of competition, 47 spellers fell out during six rounds of competition which used 400 words, leaving 32 spellers for the final day of competition.[4][5]

  1. ^ a b c d Von Bergen, Drew (6 June 1975). Puerto Rican boy wins National Spelling Bee, The Bryan Times (UPI)
  2. ^ (5 June 2015). The Scripps National Spelling Bee, Rolla Daily News
  3. ^ (6 June 1975). San German Youth Wins Spelling Bee, Virgin Islands Daily News (Associated Press)
  4. ^ (4 June 1975). 32 Survive In Spelling Bee, Sarasota Herald-Tribune (UPI)
  5. ^ (5 June 1975). Tension mounts at spelling bee (photo), Spokesman-Review (AP)