Frank Neuhauser, who in 1925 won the first US national Spelling Bee with the word “gladiolus”, has died. He was 97.

Mr Neuhauser was a patent lawyer who lived in Silver Spring, Maryland.

He died on March 11 in his home, Francis J. Collins Funeral Home said.

He was 11 years old when he won the championship.

His prizes included $500 in gold and a trip to the White House to meet President Calvin Cool-idge.

The contest, now called the Scripps National Spelling Bee, has become popular and portions of it are televised.