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Frank Neuhauser

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Speling Be Chimp

The Resume

    (September 29, 1913-March 11, 2011)
    Born in Louisville, Kentucky
    Won the first National Spelling Bee (1925)
    Winning word: gladiolus
    Became a patent attorney for General Electric
    Chaired the patent law division of the American Bar Association
    Appeared in the documentary film 'Spellbound' (2002)

Why he might be annoying:

    He happened to grow gladiolli in his home garden, so he lucked out with the winning word.
    He said of more recent spelling bees, 'Now the words are just too big. I couldn't even get through the first round.'
    He died of a disease that would make a good spelling bee final word: myelodysplastic syndrome.

Why he might not be annoying:

    For his victory, he received $500 in gold, a new bicycle and a trip to the White House to meet President Coolidge.
    He was married to Mary Virginia Clark for 66 years until his death.
    He was a popular guest at later spelling bees, where contestants would snap his picture and ask for autographs.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 122 Votes: 49.18% Annoying