16th_Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee
16th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Spelling bee held in the United States in 1940
The 16th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 1940. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until the next year.
The winner was 14-year-old girl Laurel Kuykendall, correctly spelling the word therapy. Elizabeth O'Keefe, a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey, took second place after failing to correctly spell "plantain", followed by Eleanor Shea of Nebraska in third.[4]
There were 22 spellers this year, and the prizes were $500 for first, $200 for second, and $100 for third.[4][5][6][7]
Harold F. Harding of George Washington University was the pronouncer. He earned a round of applause when he slipped and spelled the word "fore" himself, instead of waiting for the speller to do so.[3]