METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — This man knows how to spell "success."

In fact, he knows how to spell just about every word in the book.

He's Johnny Lapani, and WGNO Good Morning New Orleans features reporter Bill Wood wants you to meet the man behind the words.

All the words it took to win the Jefferson Parish Library Spelling Bee not just once, but six times.

Lapani has them under his spell.

He's the father of three, the grandfather of six, a retired attorney, a Jesuit High School graduate and a Tulane grad as well.

He's a motivated guy when it comes to spelling contests.

Back in 2019, within two weeks of two operations for a brain bleed, Lapani showed up at a spelling bee with an IV still in his arm, and he won.

That really is the way you spell "success."

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