Elmer Lee Tesreau[1] (January 22, 1905 – September 27, 1955) was an American college football player, best known as a prominent fullback at the University of Washington during the 1920s.

Elmer Tesreau
Tesreau, 1925
PositionFullback
Personal information
Born:(1905-01-22)January 22, 1905[1]
Madison County, Missouri, U.S.[1]
Died:September 27, 1955(1955-09-27) (aged 50)[2]
Seattle, Washington, U.S.[2]
Career history
CollegeWashington (1923–1925)
Bowl gamesRose Bowl (1924, 1926)
High schoolChehalis (Washington)
Career highlights and awards

Biography

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Tesreau was born in Missouri, moved to Chehalis, Washington, when young, and graduated from high school there.[2] He then played for the Washington Huskies football program, first on the freshman team in 1922,[4] then on the varsity squads in 1923, 1924, and 1925,[5] in the same backfield as Wildcat Wilson.[6]

 
Tesreau being welcomed back to Seattle on November 16, 1925, after a win over Cal

The 1923 Huskies went 10–1 during the regular season, losing only to Cal, then faced Navy in the 1924 Rose Bowl. Tesreau played through a knee injury in the 14–14 tie,[7] and discovered after the game that he had broken a leg.[8] The 1924 Huskies compiled an 8–1–1 record, but did not play in any of the limited bowl games of the era. Tesreau was captain of the 1925 Huskies[9]—undefeated during the regular season (10 wins, and a tie against Nebraska), the team suffered a 20–19 loss to Alabama in the 1926 Rose Bowl.

Tesreau was also a pitcher for the Washington Huskies baseball team.[10] He graduated as a member of the class 1926, then took an executive position with a surety company.[11] He married Virginia Akin in November 1927.[12] They had one daughter,[13] and were divorced in 1933.[14] In 1942, Tesreau faced several charges following a car accident in Seattle; at the time, he was working in a shipyard on Lake Union.[15]

Tesreau died in Seattle in September 1955, aged 50.[16] He was posthumously inducted to the Husky Hall of Fame at the University of Washington in 1985.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via fold3.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Death Takes Elmer Tesreau". The Daily Chronicle. Centralia, Washington. September 28, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Wilson, U. of W. Wins Place on All-American". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 5, 1925. p. 1 (2nd ed.). Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Tyee. University of Washington. 1926. p. 132. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via washington.edu.
  5. ^ Gastineau, Mike (October 2010). The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists. ISBN 9781458779748.
  6. ^ "85 Years and Counting ..." GoHuskies.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016.
  7. ^ Miller, Chris Ann; Roberts, Jerry (2007). Hermosa Beach. ISBN 9780738547091.
  8. ^ "Great Holiday Football Game Closes In Tie". Visalia Daily Times. Visalia, California. UP. January 2, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Thomas Porter, W. (September 2013). Go Huskies!: Celebrating the Washington Football Tradition. ISBN 9781623686581.
  10. ^ "Oregon Loses to Washington Nine by Score of 8-2". The Eugene Guard. Eugene, Oregon. May 18, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tesreau Finds Good Position". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. June 10, 1926. p. 21. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Tesreau Marries". The Olympian. The Olympian. November 5, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Mrs. Tesreau Asks Divorce From Hunny". San Francisco Examiner. AP. October 12, 1933. p. 22. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Tesreaus Divorced". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. AP. November 18, 1933. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Grid Star in Jam". The Seattle Star. September 18, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Heart Attack Kills Ex-Football Star". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. Associated Press. September 29, 1955. p. 18. Retrieved June 26, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Inductees by Year". uwtyeeclub.com. UW Tyee Club. Retrieved June 26, 2022.