Read To Succeed
Spanish
Email Updates







bee
Commissioner Gayle Ray, 2010's Celebrity Spelling Bee Champion.

bee
Mark your calendars for the 2011 Celebrity Bee:  November 15th
slideshow

For the past four years, local celebrities have taken the stage on a day in November to risk humiliation, spell their way to victory, and raise awareness about literacy and Read To Succeed.

This year, fifteen community members battled it out for the title of Celebrity Spelling Bee Champion. Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner Gayle Ray took first place, correctly spelling "foliate" to survive the final round and
"chimichanga" for the win.

In 2010, the Celebrity Spelling Bee raised $37,000 for Read To Succeed to support literacy in Rutherford County.

2010 Spellers
Albert Einstein
Genius

Gayle Ray
TN Dept. of Corrections Commissioner

Gloria LaRoche
Community Volunteer

Jeanne Bragg
Murfreesboro First Lady

Joyce Ealy
Rutherford County
Commissioner

Larry Flowers
Channel 4 News Anchor

LaShan Mathews
Miss Black Tennessee 2009
Mary Avent
Community Volunteer

Mike Smith
First Baptist Church Pastor

Pat Murphy
General Mills Plant Manager

Paul Patel
MTMC Physician

Sam Tune
Eagleville Mayor

Scott Walker
WGNS Talk Radio

Suzy Wilson, CADCOR
Facebook Speller
 Tony Dover 
Smyrna Mayor

Special thanks to Master of Ceremonies -Tom Tozer, Celebrity Bee Judges Donna Scott Davenport, Steve Daniel and Diane Mackey, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, Patterson Park & Theatre Staff, Amy Maynard, Jennifer Joines, Hank Williams, Shelia Bratton, Read To Succeed Executive Board, and Omega Phi Alpha Sorority.

Celebrity Bee Sponsors
Bridgestone Americas Trust Funds
State Farm Insurance
Adams Family Foundation

Celebrity Bee Champions
Gerald and Joanne Coggin
Colonial Pipeline
Gannett Foundation
Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation
Middle Tennessee Medical Center
MidSouth Bank
Roger’s Group

Professional Spellers
John and Betsy Barton, Mike and Connie Boyle, Ernest and Peggy Burgess, Janet Camp, Dempsey Vantrease and Follis PLLC, Emerson Heating Products, Hank and Melinda Haines, Ted and Gloria LaRoche, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, Utpal and Tina Patel, Joe and Julia Powell, Publix Super Market Charities, Wild About Smiles! Pediatric Dentistry, Vanderbilt Cardiology

Master Spellers
AT&T, Mary Tom Berry, Steve and Lara Daniel, Dean and Donna Davenport, Ivan and Nancy Duggin, Russ and Sherry Galloway, Gil’s Ace Hardware (David and Ginny Williams), Jimmy and Carla Hart, John and Marilyn Hood, Mel and Cara Jones, LaVergne Rotary Club, Brian and Janet
Lee, George and Lynn Lien, Mid-State Surgery (Mark and Leslie Akins), Murfreesboro Electric Department, Middle Tennessee Membership Corporation, MTSU Science Department, Richard and Julie Peppers, Reeves-Sain Family Medical Services, Joe and Ronni Shaw, The Destiny Center (Ben and Jewell Tankard), Waldron and Fann, Charles Wendt, WGNS Radio, Andy and Cherry Womack

Expert Spellers
Joey and Julie Allison, Susan Andrews, Richard Baines, David and Nancy Bragg, Tommy and Jeanne Bragg, Ira and Sara Brody, Jeff and Kristina Brown, Ivie and Stephanie Burns II, Larry Castelli, John and Marcie Castleberry, Joyce Ealy, Ed and Melissa Elam, Gary and Charlotte Gardner, Gary and Claire Gelfman, Gary and Libby Green, John and Debbie Harney, Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Inskeep, Jeff and Duane Jordan, Jonathan Jordan, Rick and Veronica King, Mary Ellen Kinsey, David and Joyce Lavery, Chuck Lewis, Don McEwen, Gary and Janise Mioton, Nancy Moore, Erica and Nena Negli, Britt and Mary Esther Reed, Liz Rhea, Judith Rusciolelli, Diane Sawyer, Ken Sloan, Mike and Tammy Smith, Andy Soapes, Bobbie Solley, Pat and Margie Spangler, Janet Stankwytch, Amber St. John, Royce and Susan Taylor, Dr. and Mrs. Roy Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Victory, G. L. and Mary Wade, Marty and Rebecca Walker, Chad and Dawn White, Vara Williams, Sally Schneider and Jim Wiseman, Judy Whitehill, Robert Gibson and Rhea Seddon, 
Doug and Susan Young

Dedicated Spellers
James Bailey, Joseph and Virginia Boone, Robert and Theresa Carroll, Billie Jean Chrisman, Scott Corlew, Becky Davis, Patrick and Delores Doyle, John and Ruby Dudinetz, Jerrod and Tracy Ervin, Thomas Farmer, Barb Ford, Lawrence Freeman, Eska Garrison, Warren Gill, Patricia Hamel, Rick and Sally Heydel, Glenn and Ellen Himebaugh, Glen and Patricia Hutchinson, Yvonne Jaenisch, Glendel Knight, Eddie Knox, Sherry Lane, Heather Lanier, Cuba Lekich, Ronald and Joanne Minnick, Ellen Murphy, Charles Poe, Carolyn Reeves, Melissa Roberge, Carol Ann Sherrill, Bobby and Beverly Smithson, Natasha Stiles, Mayo Taylor, William and Margaret Thomas, Ralph and Stephanie Turley, Danny and Mary Wallace, Tommy and Tammy Walker, 
David and Patricia Whitaker

In Kind Donors
Bonefish Grill, Demos’ Restaurant, Murfreesboro Automotive Group, Murfreesboro Magazine, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, Patterson Park Community Center, 
Shacklett’s Photography, State Farm Insurance
give
volunteer learn





home