9th Scripps National Spelling Bee
The 9th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. on May 30, 1933, organized by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
The winner was 12-year-old Alma Roach of Twinsburg, Ohio, sponsored by the Akron Beacon Journal, correctly spelling the word torsion. George Meltzer of New Jersey placed second, followed by 13-year-old Virginia Wood in third.
Roach won $500 for first place, followed by $300 for second, and $100 for third.
The event was broadcast on radio.
Roach became a teacher, retiring from Solon Middle School in her hometown of Twinsburg in 1983. She died at Akron General Hospital on July 31, 2003.
