Alex J. Cameron (1937 – February 24, 2003) was an English professor at the

University of Dayton The University of Dayton (UD) is a Private university, private, Catholic research university in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary (Marianists), Society of Mary, it is one of three Marianist universities in the U ...

and the official pronouncer of the

Scripps National Spelling Bee The Scripps National Spelling Bee, formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and often referred to as the National Spelling Bee or simply “the Spelling Bee” in the United States, is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. ...

from 1981 to 2002.

Biography

Cameron grew up in

Dearborn, Michigan Dearborn is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring Metro Detroit, suburb of Detroit, Dearborn borders Detroit to the south and west, roughly west of downtown Detroit. In the 2020 United States ...

, and attended the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...

. He taught

American literature American literature is literature written or produced in the United States of America and in the British colonies that preceded it. The American literary tradition is part of the broader tradition of English-language literature, but also ...

and the history of the English language at the University of DaytonDennis McLellan.
Alex Cameron, 65; Baronial Voice of Annual Spelling Bee
. ''Los Angeles Times''. February 28, 2003. Retrieved on May 29, 2009. from 1964 until his death in 2003. In 1978, he began accompanying fellow Dayton professor Richard R. Baker to the National Spelling Bee, where Baker had served as official pronouncer since 1960. After Baker retired, spelling bee officials asked Cameron to take his place.Grant, Alison (9 May 1989)
Spelling bee pronouncer says winners are well read
UPI National Spelling Bee director Paige Kimble said that Cameron had "a rich voice" and "could relate genuinely and positively with children of all different backgrounds and demeanors." In February 2003, Cameron died at age 65 in his

Kettering, Ohio Kettering is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. It is an inner suburb of Dayton, Ohio, Dayton. The city had a population of 57,862 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the most populous suburb in the Dayton metr ...

, home of an apparent heart attack.

Jacques Bailly 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. American Bee: the National Spelling Bee and the Culture of Word Nerds'. Rodale, ...

succeeded him as the National Spelling Bee's pronouncer. The Cameron Corner is a collection of books and a comfortable reading nook, located in the northeast corner of the University of Dayton Roesch Library's fifth floor. The majority of the books belonged to Cameron. The space was established to honor Cameron and his love of reading.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, Alex 2003 deaths University of Notre Dame alumni University of Dayton faculty Scripps National Spelling Bee 1937 births People from Kettering, Ohio