1st Scripps National Spelling Bee


The 1st National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1925, sponsored by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.

Competition

Nine finalists competed in Washington, where they met President Calvin Coolidge before the competition. After a 90-minute competition, the winner was 11-year-old Frank Neuhauser of Kentucky who correctly spelled gladiolus, a flower he had raised as a boy. He won $500 in gold pieces for placing first, and Louisville held a parade in his honor.
Coming in second place was 11-year-old Edna Stover of Trenton, New Jersey, winning $250, who spelled gladiolus with a "y" instead of an "i". Third place went to 12-year-old Helen Fischer of Akron, Ohio who missed "moribund", and fourth prize went to 13-year-old Mary Daniel of Hartford, Connecticut who missed "valuing".
The first to fall in the competition of nine was Almeda Pennington on "skittish", followed by Mary Coddens , Loren Mackey , Patrick Kelly , and Dorothy Karrick .
The nine contestants in the first bee were: Dorothy Katrick, Helen Fischer, Edna Stover, Patrick Keily, Lorin Mackey, Frank Neuhauser, Alemda Pennington, Mary Daniel, and Mary Coddens.
Dr. George S. Wills served as pronouncer.