32nd Scripps National Spelling Bee explained

The 32nd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Mayflower Hotel^[1] in Washington, District of Columbia on June 11–12, 1959, organized by the E.W. Scripps Company.

There were 70 entrants, with 59 eliminated on the first day, leaving 11 finalists for the second day of competition. Five of the eleven finalists had competed the prior year.

The winner was Joel Montgomery (age 12) of Denver, a seventh-grader at Byers Junior High, correctly spelling the word catamaran. He was the first boy to win since 1954. Second place went to Robert Crossley (age 13) of Center Square, Pennsylvania, who had finished 14th the prior year, and who failed to correctly spell fanfaronade. Allan Lee Kramer (age 13) of Lake Worth, Florida placed third.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Montgomery appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 14, 1959.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Hensley, Doug (1 June 2008). Nelson recalls trip to capital for national bee, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
2. (11 June 1959). Kansas Champ Is One Final Group At Washington, Lawrence Daily Journal-World
3. (12 June 1959). Denver Seventh Grader Outspells All-Comers To Win First Prize, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
4. (11 June 1959). 11 Spellers In Finals, Reading Eagle
5. Shoemarker, Whitney (13 June 1959). He Produces Champion Spellers, Times Daily
6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040053/epcast Ed Sullivan Show episodes