Bill Smith, Orland Spelling Bee Founder, Dies At 92

ORLAND PARK, IL — The founder of the annual Orland Park Spelling Bee contest died on Sunday, Nov. 22, at age 92. Bill Smith had hosted the community spelling bee for more than 40 years, according to the Village of Orland Park.

The village said the 92-year-old educator, historian and retired superintendent of schools for District 126 in Alsip was known locally for his creation and hosting of the "Orland Park Open Spelling Bee."

"I actually held my first spelling bee in Oak Lawn in 1976 during the United States Bicentennial Celebration," Smith told Patch at the 2018 spelling bee. "We held our first in Orland Park in 1979."

In 2018, Smith told Patch he credits 'Little House on the Prairie,' by Laura Ingalls Wilder for triggering the idea of a community wide spelling bee.

"In the story, they had an all town spelling bee in 1882 in the Dakota Territories. I held my first spelling bee during our nation's bi-centennial in Oak Lawn in 1976 and have held over one hundred since then," Smith said.

In August 2019, the village honored Smith at a regular village board meeting, while reminding residents to sign up for the spelling bee.

According to the village, Smith and his late wife, Rita, had three daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Smith was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church of Orland Park and was active with a number of area veterans’ organizations, according to the village.

In 2018, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau proclaimed Nov. 10 as Dr. William Smith Day in the Village of Orland Park, commemorating Smith’s 90th birthday, according to the village.

Orland Park residents took to Facebook to express their condolences. "I enjoyed many conversations with him over the 17 years I have known him," one said. "A very nice man that will be missed."