Archives West Finding Aid

Darwin Meisnest was a member of the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) during his time as a student from 1915-1919. For his senior year, Darwin was the general manager of all student activities for the ASUW. In 1918, Meisnest was named the first student to be accepted to the Officers Material School at the Naval Training Station after trying and failing to join the army three times. As a student, he also worked for The Daily, the Washingtonian, the University magazine, business manager of the Tyee, representative to the Board of Control, basketball team manager, a member of the Oval Club, and member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After his graduation with a degree in Liberal Arts in 1919, he became the Graduate Manager of the ASUW, a position he held from 1920 to 1928. Meisnest is widely attributed with leading the effort to build a sports stadium on campus, Washington stadium, which later developed into Husky Stadium. The stadium brought in a surplus of money after its construction and Meisnest was given the credit for the commercial success. He also was the Wayfarer assistant manager and executive secretary. Controversy emerged late in Meisnest's time at UW when he was essentially given a blank check to build the UW athletic pavilion near the stadium. Its $600,000 budget was opposed by then ASUW president and future US representative, Marion Zioncheck. Zioncheck and Meisnest's "civil war" is not noted as playing a part in Darwin Meisnest's decision to leave his position. In 1928, he accepted a position as the assistant sales manager for the Pacific Coast Cement Company in Seattle to run their $3 million budget and was replaced by Earl F. Campbell. Darwin Meisnest retained his close relationship with UW and the sports program in specific. He later served as the Chairman for the alumni board for the crew team to raise funds to provide new equipment to the team and facilitate their travel. Upon his death, he left $5,000 to the UW athletics program. The Meisnest memorial was dedicated in 1956 by Henry Schmitz.