We hope to bring back this wonderful event in the Fall of 2021! Stay tuned for more information to come.
35th Annual Adult Spelling Bee Winners
32nd Literary Heritage Award Recipient, Ron Hull!
The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association will award its 32nd Literary Heritage Award at the Spelling BEE to Ron Hull for his work with Nebraska Educational Television and his commitment to the Literary Arts in Nebraska. Throughout his career, Mr. Hull introduced many Nebraskans to the rich literary history of our state. Hull is likely best known for bringing an appreciation of the work of John Neihardt and Mari Sandoz to a much broader audience through interviews and programming on NETV. Hull also helped connect Neihardt and Dick Cavett for their famous 1971 interview. As an author, in his memoir, Backstage: Stories from My Life in Public Television, 2012, Mr. Hull gives insight into his career and his encounters with Neihardt and Sandoz.
2019 Spelling Bee Sponsors
C Chiropractor Matthew Horak, DC
E Eskridge Family, Carl & Janet
H Hartmann Family, Klaus & Gisela
I Insurance Agent Bev Higgins
J Julie Robinson
K Pat Leach
N Carol Speicher
P Jon Peterson
Q Quinn, Michelle Farley’s Niece
S Shiffermiller Law Office PC LLO
U Underground Attraction: Robber’s Cave
V Veterinarian Judy Mulder, DVM
W Wall Family, Milan & Sue Ellen
X Pius X Librarian Erin Willis
Z “Bee Zaps” Molly Fisher
a thanks to our “amazing” volunteers – Gail McNair
b Barb Jacobson
c Carl Eskridge
d Diane Wagner
e Eye Surgical Associates
f fun!! – Marty Eischeid
g Gail’s Grandsons
h “humanities” – Humanities of Nebraska Staff
i jenni, with an I, jex
j Janet Eskridge
k Kathy Johnson
l Lois Wies
m Michelle Farley
n Nebraska Transition College – Wendy Johnson
o Ollie’s owner, Brian Wagner
p Jon Peterson
q qute granddaughter of Meredith & Tom McGowan, Gabriella
r Rod Wagner
s Lincoln Surgical Hospital
t Todd & Wendy Johnson
u U-Stop Shops
v Devra Dragos
w Diane Wilson
x x marks the spot for Meredith & Tom McGowan’s granddaughter, Madeleine
y Erin Duerr
z Joyce Vannier
Spelling Bee Winners
Year – Winning Contestant – Winning Word
2019 – Jim Johnson & Sheppard Perkins (tie) – (no winning word)
2018 – Rich Schroeder – xylography
2017 – Robert Goldberg – herbaceous
2016 – Tom McGowan – cachou
2015 – Larry Day & Aimee Allard (tie) – (unknown)
2014 – Larry Day – duopsony
2013 – Priscilla Handy – wattage
2012 – Brad Bossung – trichinosis
2009 – Larry Day – chlorella
2008 – Julia Doerr – isinglass
2007 – Michael Cartwright – (unknown)
2006 – Brent Mehling – anodyne
2005 – Larry Day – zebu
2004 – Brian Bornstein – adamantine
2003 – Rod Confer – oubliette
2002 – Brian Bornstein – pellucid
2001 – (not held)
2000 – Tex Richters – picayune
1999 – George Day – helical
1998 – Donald McGinley – chicanery
1997 – Kathryn Bellman – eiderdown
1996 – Larry Day – bifurcate
1995 – Francois Neville – imbrication
1994 – Bill Regier – cacophonous
1993 – Judy Sing – hegemony
1992 – Maureen Hutfless – samite
1991 – Bob Gibson – brougham
1990 – Anny Gillis – antependium
1989 – Vaughn Border – monstrous
1988 – Mary White – ossification
1987 – Donald McGinley – arcanum
1986 – Deb Pearson – pyorrhea
1985 – Kathleen Rutledge – balalaika
1984 – Sydney Lynch – parallelepiped
LITERARY HERITAGE AWARD WINNERS
The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association began sponsoring the Literary Heritage Award in 1988.
The award recognizes persons or groups that promote excellence in writing in Nebraska.
It was presented at the Mayor’s Arts Awards, 1988 – 2013, and at the Annual Adult Spelling Bee, beginning in 2014.
1988 1st John Janovy & Hilda Raz
1989 2nd Ted Kooser
1990 3rd David McCleery
1991 4th Bess Walt
1992 5th William Kloefkorn
1993 6th Herb Hyde
1994 7th Jane Geske
1995 8th Martha Greer
1996 9th Marly Swick
1997 10th Nebraska Literature Festival
1998 11th Morrie Tuttle
1999 12th Marge Saiser
2000 13th Molly Fisher
2001 14th Ruth Rosekrans Hoffman
2002 15th Ruthann Young
2003 16th Kit Dimon & Judy Wilcox
2004 17th Campbell’s Nurseries & Garden Centers
2005 18th Carol Connor
2006 19th Dorothy Olson Young
2007 20th Gerry Cox
2008 21st Paul A. Olson
2009 22nd Robert Knoll
2010 23rd NET Radio: “All About Books” with hosts, Charles . Stephen & Otis Young
2011 24th Jim McKee & Linda Hillegass
2012 25th Joe Starita
2013 26th Joel Sartore
2014 27th Mary Pipher
2015 28th Meredith McGowan
2016 29th Rod Wagner
2017 30th Roger Welsch
2018 31st Paul Johnsgard
2019 32nd Ron Hull