3rd Scripps National Spelling Bee

3rd National Spelling Bee
Date	June 23, 1927
Location	National Museum, Washington, D.C.
Winner	Dean Lucas
Age	13
Residence	West Salem, Ohio
Sponsor	Akron Beacon Journal
Sponsor location	Akron, Ohio
No. of contestants	17[1]
Pronouncer	George S. Wills[2]
Preceded by	2nd Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by	4th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 3rd National Spelling Bee was held at the National Museum in Washington, D.C. on June 23, 1927, hosted by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.

The winner was 13-year-old Dean Lucas of West Salem, Ohio (some sources say nearby Congress, Ohio, where he attended school), with the word abrogate.^[3] Ralph Keenan, 13, of Waukon, Iowa placed second (misspelling "abrogate" as "abregate"), and Minerva Ressler, 12, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was third.^[1][4][5] It was Lucas' second appearance at the bee.^[6]

There were 17 contestants this year, 13 girls and 4 boys, between ages 10 and 15, and the bee lasted three hours.^[1] The first place prize was $1000, with $500 for second, and $250 for third.^[1]

References

1. (24 June 1927). Ohio Boy Wins Spelling Bee At Washington, The Miami News
2. (17 May 1953). Spelling Bee Still Growing - Professor Recalls Opening Contest, Eugene Register-Guard (Associated Press)
3. Dyer, Bob (27 May 2017). Spelling bee misspells its own history, Akron Beacon Journal
4. (6 July 1927). Words, Miami News (noting that Lucas hailed from Wayne County, Ohio)
5. (15 July 1927). "Abrogate", Milwaukee Sentinel
6. (19 July 1927). At Night He Studied Just Spelling(?), Emporia Gazette (subscription required)