56th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 56th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on June 8–9, 1983, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

56th Scripps National Spelling Bee
{
The Capital Hilton, site of the 56th National Spelling Bee
DateJune 8–9, 1983
LocationThe Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
WinnerBlake Giddens
Age14
ResidenceAlamogordo, New Mexico
SponsorEl Paso Herald-Post
Sponsor locationEl Paso, Texas
Winning wordPurim
No. of contestants137[1]
PronouncerAlex Cameron
Preceded by55th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by57th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner was 14-year-old Blake Giddens of Alamogordo, New Mexico, correctly guessing the proper spelling of "Purim".[2][3] Giddens' sister Nicole had been a contestant in the 1980 and 1981 bees, where she finished 103rd and 43rd, respectively.[2]

Second place was captured by 13-year-old Eric Rauchway of St. Petersburg, Florida, who missed "ratatouille" by putting an "i" at the end.[2] Third-place went to 11-year-old Tanya Solomon of Kansas City, Missouri who missed "meuniere". She who was among 17 return competitors this year, and had finished 27th the prior year.[1][4]

Giddens was crowned the winner at 11 a.m. on June 9, in round 11.[5]

There were 137 spellers this year, 83 girls and 54 boys.[6] Ten spellers went out in the first round on day one, and 17 in the second round. After lunch on day one, 16 spellers dropped out in the third round, and 42 in the fourth round, leaving 52 spellers at 5:10pm to make it to day two. A total of 574 words were used.[1][5][7][8]

The first-place winner won $1,000.[3] Alex Cameron was the pronouncer.[9]

References
  1. (10 June 1983). St. Petersburg Youth is 2nd in Spelling Bee, Gainesville Sun (Associated Press)
  2. (10 June 1983) AROUND THE NATION; 'P-u-r-i-m' Spells Title For New Mexico Boy, The New York Times (Associated Press)
  3. (11 June 1983). When all else fails, try guessing, Gadsden Times (Associated Press)
  4. Polakoff, Joseph (16 June 1983). Spelling 'Purim' Correctly Wins Championship For Boy Who Never Heard It Before, Texas Jewish Post
  5. Ehst, William R. (9 June 19830. Local Speller bows out in 4th round of D.C. bee, Reading Eagle
  6. Macino, Dick (8 June 1983). District's No. 1 Speller Finds National Bee Wordy From Start, Pittsburgh Press
  7. (31 May 1984). 48 survive the first day of National Spelling Bee, Gainesville Sun (Associated Press)
  8. (8 June 1983). Misspeller is a spelling bee hero, The New York Times (UPI)
  9. Ferraro, Thomas (8 June 1983). Eighty-five of 137 whiz kids were eliminated Wednesday at ..., UPI
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