Jacques Bailly
{{Short description|Scripps National Spelling Bee pronouncer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jacques A. Bailly
| image = UVM Faculty Feature Jacques Bailly (square).jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|01|28}}
| education = {{unbulleted list|Brown University (BA)|Cornell University (PhD)}}
| employer = University of Vermont
| organization = Scripps National Spelling Bee
| television = Scripps National Spelling Bee
| spouse = Leslyn Hall
| children = 2
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}Jacques A. Bailly (born January 28, 1966) is an American professor who has served as the Scripps National Spelling Bee's official pronouncer since 2003.James Maguire. [https://books.google.com/books?id=OIsZ0t6LhfAC&dq=%22alex+cameron%22+spelling&pg=PA124 American Bee: the National Spelling Bee and the Culture of Word Nerds]. Rodale, 2006. 121-124. He was the 1980 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion.
Early life and education
Bailly was born in 1966 and grew up in the Denver, Colorado area. He began participating in spelling bees in sixth grade, training with a nun at his Catholic school. He reached the National Spelling Bee as an eighth grader and won with the word elucubrate."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l84SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5738,5675521&dq=jacques-bailly+elucubrate Denver boy wins spelling bee]". The Ledger. May 30, 1980. 5.
Bailly studied Ancient Greek and Latin, receiving his bachelor's degree from Brown University and his PhD from Cornell University.{{cite web |url=https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/JABcv2014_1.pdf |access-date=2021-07-09
|title=Jacques A. Bailly CV |website=uvm.edu |date=January 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020120347/http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/documents/JacquesBaillyResume_Aug2010.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-20 |url-status=live}}
He learned German in Switzerland with the help of a Fulbright scholarship.
Career
In 1990, he wrote a letter to the National Spelling Bee organizers offering his services and was hired as an associate pronouncer.M.J. Stephey. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20130614035910/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1900587,00.html Q&A: Spelling Bee Pronouncer Jacques Bailly]". Time. May 26, 2009. Retrieved on August 4, 2009. Bailly became the Bee's chief pronouncer after Alex Cameron's death in 2003.
Bailly works full-time as an associate professor of classics at the University of Vermont, specializing in Greek and Roman philosophy, particularly Plato.{{cite web |url=http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/?Page=bailly.php
|website=uvm.edu/~classics/ |publisher=University of Vermont
|title=Jacques A. Bailly, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228084139/http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/?Page=bailly.php |archive-date=2018-02-28 |url-status=dead}}
He previously served as the President of the UVM chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
Personal life
Bailly is married to Leslyn Hall. They have two children and a dog.[https://www.uvm.edu/~classics/documents/JABcv2014.pdf JABcv2014]. JABcv2014. Retrieved on May 31, 2017. {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601195420/https://www.uvm.edu/~classics/documents/JABcv2014.pdf|date=2015-06-01}} He portrayed himself in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee, which focuses on a girl (played by Keke Palmer) who competes in the National Spelling Bee.
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.believermag.com/issues/200504/?read=interview_bailly The Believer - Interview with Jacques Bailly] June/July 2006
- [https://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/the-official-pronouncer-of-the-scripps-national-spelling-bee?playall=376 The Man Who Pronounced It All]
- {{IMDb name|1120171}}
- [https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a20748354/scripps-national-spelling-bee-espn/ The Kids Are A-L-R-I-G-H-T]
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{{succession box | before = Katie Kerwin McCrimmon | title = Scripps National Spelling Bee winner | years = 1980 | after = Paige Pipkin}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailly, Jacques}}
Category:Spelling bee champions
Category:American classical scholars
Category:Classical scholars of the University of Vermont
Category:Cornell University alumni
Category:Brown University alumni
Category:Scripps National Spelling Bee