Austin resident Molly Martin claimed victory at the inaugural adult spelling bee hosted by First Light Books in Hyde Park, besting runner-up Michael Williams amidst a spirited competition. At 82 years old, Martin took to the podium for her final word, eliciting anticipation from an audience of nearly 40 participants who had battled through the heat for hours.
“Your word is eudaemonia,” announced judge Sam Ackerman, First Light’s book buyer, defining it as happiness or well-being, especially in philosophical contexts. With poise, Martin repeated the word and spelled it correctly: “E-U-D-A-E-M-O-N-I-A.” The crowd erupted in applause, celebrating her triumph and showing their support, including Williams, who smiled despite his loss.
Williams stumbled on his final word, “gobemouche,” which means a gullible person, sealing Martin’s victory. Holding a large trophy, she expressed gratitude to her husband and shared her plans for celebrating. “I guess we’ll go out and have some dinner and call the children on the East Coast,” she said, admitting she hadn’t anticipated winning.
Breezy Mayo, the general manager of First Light Books, revealed that the idea of hosting an adult spelling bee had been in the works for years. The aim was to foster community connections, much like their annual block party, and to create a new tradition that would offer participants a chance at “local glory.”
Mayo noted that many staff members had fond memories of their own spelling bee experiences from childhood, making the event especially meaningful. The competition attracted a diverse group of contestants, including former spelling bee champions, teachers, a dyslexia therapist, a comparative literature expert, and even an undercover agent from BookPeople.
Under the tent in the bookstore’s parking lot, Ackerman kicked off Round 1 with words often mispronounced, such as harass, millennium, and accommodate. Martin later reflected on the challenges of the first round, highlighting that words with double letters could pose difficulties for competitors.
This spelling bee featured an innovative twist: audience members could pay to impose “curses” on contestants. Proceeds from this initiative benefited the literacy nonprofit BookSpring. For example, one contestant faced the “buzzer beater” curse, having to spell “pomegranate” in just 20 seconds, while others had to spell words backwards. A father-son duo encountered the “double trouble” curse, tasked with spelling two words instead of one.
Additionally, “blessings” were available for purchase, allowing audience members to assist contestants by granting a correct letter or a second chance. For a hefty sum of $250, a contestant could be resurrected after elimination. Mayo expressed the intent behind these additions, stating, “We’re just trying to introduce a little mischief and silliness into the classic spelling bee model.”
Despite the playful elements of the competition, Martin maintained a straightforward approach. She confidently chose between two words when granted a “blessing,” successfully spelling “peroration” over “malapropism.” For her, participating in the spelling bee was a return to a beloved tradition that had faded when the Austin Chronicle discontinued its annual event.
Martin attributed her spelling prowess to early education, her knowledge of various languages, and a rich professional background that has exposed her to a diverse vocabulary. With a life filled with adventures—including roles as a Peace Corps volunteer, surgical nurse, inline skating instructor, and gallery staffer—Martin embraced her age with pride. “I’m in my 80s, so I’ve had a few years to do things,” she noted.
These days, you might spot Martin inline skating at the Veloway in South Austin, and she plans to showcase her trophy in her living room as a testament to her achievement.
