20th Scripps National Spelling Bee
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| 20th Scripps National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 29, 1947 |
| Location | Auditorium of the National Press Building, Washington, D.C.[1] |
| Winner | Mattie Lou Pollard |
| Age | 14 |
| Residence | Thomaston, Georgia |
| Sponsor | Atlanta Journal |
| Sponsor location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Winning word | chlorophyll |
| No. of contestants | 35 |
| Pronouncer | Harold F. Harding[2] |
| Preceded by | 19th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 21st Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 20th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 29, 1947, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.
The winner was 14-year-old girl Mattie Lou Pollard of Thomaston, Georgia, who attended a one-room schoolhouse, correctly spelling the word chlorophyll. Pollard had placed sixth in the prior's years bee. Fourteen-year-old Sonya Rodolfo of Chicago (but a native of the Philippines) took second, and failed to spell "maggoty", followed by Suzanne Gelin of Parma, Ohio, who misspelled "sarsaparilla".[3][4] Fourth place when to Sharon Gross of Akron, Ohio, who misspelled "bellicose" in the 31st round.[5]
Pollard was the first Bee winner from Georgia. She later worked for the Department of Defense, and the National Park Service. She died in Norcross, Georgia on January 10, 2006.[6]