The 36th

Scripps National Spelling Bee The Scripps National Spelling Bee (formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and commonly called the National Spelling Bee) is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. The bee is run on a not-for-profit basis by The E. W. Scri ...

was held in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, on June 12–13, 1963, sponsored by the

E.W. Scripps Company The E. W. Scripps Company is an American broadcasting company founded in 1878 as a chain of daily newspapers by Edward Willis "E. W." Scripps and his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps. It was also formerly a media conglomerate. The company is he ...

. 13-year-old eighth-grader Glen Van Slyke III of

Oak Ridge, Tennessee Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of downtown Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 31,402 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Oak ...

, sponsored by the ''

Knoxville News Sentinel The ''Knoxville News Sentinel, also known as Knox News,'' is a daily newspaper in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Gannett Company. History The newspaper was formed in 1926 from the merger of two competing newspapers: ''The ...

'', won the competition in 33 rounds, correctly spelling the final word ''equipage''. His strategy involved spelling very slowly to ensure accuracy as well as asking for derivations and roots of every word. Second place went to Elaine Piecuch (age 14) of

Winslow, Maine Winslow is a New England town, town and census-designated place in Kennebec County, Maine, Kennebec County, Maine, United States, along the Kennebec River across from Waterville, Maine, Waterville. The population was 7,948 at the 2020 United Stat ...

, who failed to correctly spell ''biliousness'', followed in third by Gary Barringer (age 14) of

East Liverpool, Ohio East Liverpool is a city in southeastern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 9,958 at the 2020 census. It lies along the Ohio River within the Upper Ohio Valley and borders Pennsylvania to the east and West Virginia to the ...

. The top prizes were $1000, $500, and $250. There were 69 contestants this year, 39 girls and 30 boys. Nine came from Texas, eight from Ohio, six from Pennsylvania, and five from New York. Four spellers were return contestants.Moulton, Charlotte G. (12 June 1963)
69 in Spelling Bee Finals
''Eugene Register Guard'' A record number of 752 words were used in the competition, besting the prior year's record of 718.Williams, Joseph J. (14 June 1963)
D-E-L-B-E-R-A-T-E Bee Kind's Key Word
''Pittsburgh Press''(13 June 1963)
Spelling Bee Decided By Word for Upset Stomach
''Ellensburg Daily Record'' (Associated Press)(14 June 1963)
He Wins Spelling Bee (photo)
''Evening Independent''(13 June 1963)
National Spelling Bee Nearing Finals
''Rome News-Tribune'' (UPI) (Update article on status of bee as second day started; Notes for 47th-53rd to drop out)(12 June 1963)
National Spelling Bee Gets Underday
''Rome News-Tribune'' (UPI)

References

{{Scripps National Spelling Bee Scripps National Spelling Bee competitions 1963 in Washington, D.C. 1963 in education June 1963 events in the United States