The Hazard Herald Saturday, Jan 22, 1940 HESTER COMBS WINS PERRY SPELLING BEE Harveyton Girl Is Last On Her Feet! Thelma Stacy of Scuddy Misses On "Opportunities" And Ranks Second Today! Hester COMBS, 13 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie COMBS of Harveyton is the 1940 Champion Speller of Perry Co. today, Hester's teacher is Margaret STRUNK. Miss COMBS, who is in the seventh grade at Harveyton spelled down Thelma STACY, of Scuddy, who attends the Defiance school. Thelma missed on the word, "opportunities." The bee, held in the library room of the Hazard High school with R. T. WHITTINGHILL, Hazard city superintendent of schools in charge. More than a 100 parents, teachers, and friends gathered to watch their various champions. Georgia RICHIE of Hardburley, last year's champion went down just before Miss STACY for the third place win. Bert RHODES, of Busy, upheld the boys in the contest with fourth place. Greenberry JOHNSON of Buckhorn was fifth, Evelyn DEATON, of Walkertown, sixth, Louise STACY of Blue Diamond, seventh, Eugene CREECH of Viper, eighth, Granville BEGLEY of Briar Fork, ninth and Donald FUGATE of Bonnyman, tenth. There were more than 30 in the contest. Ivey PEEBLES of the Hazard Herald staff was the pronouncer and with Earl BEGLEY, were the judges of the affair. Prizes headed by The Herald's round-trip ticket to Louisville were presented to the winner immediately after the contest. ****************************************** Lynda's note: Hester was the d/o William M. Combs and Lena Daniels. I have her later married to Buford J. Williamson. Comments welcome.