25th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner was Doris Ann Hall, 13, of Hudson, North Carolina, correctly spelling the word vignette.[2] Second place fell to Majorie Follart, 13, of Crafton, Pennsylvania, who failed to correctly spell "farraginous", followed by Mary Ellen Rusk, age 12, of Washington in third place.[2] Follart, a return speller, could also spell any word in reverse.[1] Hall had also been in the prior year spelling bee, but had missed spelling the word "condign".[3]

505 words were used in the competition.[4]

There were 51 contestants this year, 31 girls and 20 boys, ranging in age from 10 to 14.[1]

Benson S. Alleman was pronouncer.[5] The first prize was $500 in cash (plus a loving cup and a plaque for the winner's school), and an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Second place received $300, and third $100; the lowest prize to any contestant was $40.[1]