Sports at the University of Washington flourished in the 1920s. Enoch “Baggy” Bagshaw coached the football team, assisted by Dorsett “Tubby” Graves, who also coached baseball. During the 1920s, they headed a very strong UW football team, nicknamed “The Purple Tornado” by sports writers. The most lauded player to come out of the 1920s was halfback George “Wildcat” Wilson of Everett, Washington. In 1925, he was unanimously selected to receive All-American honors. In 1926, Coach Bagshaw said of Wilson that he was “the greatest football player in the history of the University of Washington” (Tyee, 1926). He graduated in 1926 after a standout performance at the 1926 Rose Bowl against the University of Alabama. His number, 33, is one of only three to be retired in UW football history.
George Wilson played alongside his best friend, Elmer “Tez” Tesreau. In 1925, when he was voted by his teammates as the team’s most inspiring player and given the Guy Flaherty Award, George turned it over to Elmer.
Elmer started out on the freshman football team in 1922 and quickly stood out for his defensive playing. He was later put in the backfield as fullback so he could most effectively boost George Wilson’s throwing. Together they were remembered as the “Husky juggernauts” in the 1925 Tyee yearbook. He was frequently among the picks for All-American honors. He was noted nationally for playing with a broken leg in the 1924 Rose Bowl against Navy in Pasadena. To his fellow players he was a “leader, uncomplaining and inspiring” (Tyee, 1926). He became football team captain in 1925 after a tie between him and George Wilson was broken when George said, “Give it to Elmer, boys. He deserves it more than I do” (Tyee, 1926).
Elmer Tesreau was also a skilled member of the UW baseball team under Coach Tubby Graves. He participated in the annual trips to Japan to play against university teams there, particularly Waseda University. The baseball team of Waseda University had first come to play West Coast teams, including UW, in 1905. The Japanese team gained particular praise in Seattle papers. In 1908 the UW baseball team became the first mainland team from the continental United States to be invited to Tokyo to play a series of games. The annual baseball exchange was put on hold during World War One, but picked up again after the War. During these trips, athletes also had time to sightsee, go to the theatre, and visit shrines.
The University of Washington rowing team also had significant successes in the 1920s when the team began to regularly attend the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta in Poughkeepsie, New York (the “Poughkeepsie Regatta”). In 1923, UW became the first West Coast team to win the Poughkeepsie Regatta. They won the following year in 1924 and again in 1926. UW is the only team to have ever won two back to back Regattas.
Photographs relating to UW sports including portraits of University of Washington sports coaches, athletes (football, baseball, crew, basketball, athletics), UW football games, and the UW baseball team's trip to Japan.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Processed by: Molly Bishop, November 2016; Sara Cordes, April 2017.
The album was taken apart because it had deteriorated. The original order was retained.
Written on verso: 1. George Guttormsen, Capt 1926/ 2. Elmer Tesreau Capt. 1925.
Image of George Wilson was pasted over a woman next to Tesreau in the original photo.
Right half of a team photo. (See 29a for left half.) Tubby Graves is seated 3rd from right, Leonard Ziel is seated 5th from left. Darwin Miesnest is at right end.
Written on photo: Forty Years Old, Won 11, Lost 4.
Written on front: UO 22.
Written on verso: Capt. '26.
Written on front: Yours for All-American Dick Stockwell '26.
Written on front: 1. Epkerhu. Husky Capt. in 1924/ 2. Tesreau, Husky Capt. in 1925/ 3. Myron Hanley.
Written on verso: Alabama 20 Wash 19 SR at Pasadena Rose Bowl.
Caption on album page: Patton stopped for a no gain through Nebraska's right tackle.
Caption on album page: Montana vs. Washington 0-14, 2 down 3 yards to go.
Guttormsen and possibly UW player Chalmers Walters identified on verso.
Written on verso: Football captain U of W 1924.
Written on verso: Poughkeepsie winners 25, 26, 24. From the Tyee, left to right: Pat Tidmarsh, Max Luft, Charles Dunn, Rowland France, Fred Spuhn, Sam Shaw, Harry John Dutton, Dow Walling, and coxswain Don Grant.
Written on verso: George Wilson, 23, 24, 25
Written on verso: W 22 vs USC 0.
Written on verso: Power 1925 WE'VE STILL GOT IT.
From left , UW football coach Enoch Bagshaw, UW football and track athlete Egbert Brix, unidentified man, UW baseball coach Tubby Graves.
Seated on left is Coach Enoch Bagshaw. Also includes Elmer Tesreau, possibly George Wilson, and Hamilton Greene, the first Black letterman in UW football.
Left of Miesnest could possibly be Dr. Palmer.
Written on photo: May all Washington teams bring as much Honor and Glory to Washington as you men have. Dr. Alfred A. Strauss.
From negative: W.23- WSC.0 Pullman 1925
Written on verso: Univ. of Wash ball squad 1924. Left to right- Langlie, Loyd, Lewis, Hyllengren, Harold Jackson, Ed Liston, Harold Shidler, Dick Trayne, Hugh Beckket, Elmer Tesreau, Coach Graves.
Written on verso: Tackle.
Written on verso: All-American, 1925.
Written on verso: Deceased Nov 1925.
Written on photo: "Bull" Me Ra.
Written on photo: Baggy. Dr. Palmer.
Written on verso: Score 32-0.
Written on verso: Cal 7, Wash 7, 1924.
Written on verso: Capt. 1926.
Written on photo: Chalmers Walters, number 24, center.
Written on verso: USC-0 vs. Wash-16.
Written on verso: Mont. vs. Wash.
Written on verso: Walter Erickson Zachl, 1924 & 1925, Former Ballo.
Written on verso: Stanford 0- Wash. 13.
Written on verso: 3 Washingtonian.
Written on front: Where's Elmer?
Written on verso: Storm on Madison.
Written on verso: Judson Cutting, end, 1924, former Lincoln end.
The man on the right is UW football coach Enoch Bagshaw. Photo was taken at 1925 game against Nebraska.
Written on verso: U.W. 15 Oregon 14.
Written on verso: at U.S.C 3 vs. Wash 25.
Written on photo: 1923 Hanley.
Written on verso: 1 Elmer Tesreau carrying ball in practice (1924). 2 Ed Kuhn Tackle in 22, 23, 24 (Capt.).
Shows Hamilton Greene with the long stride in the center of photo. Greene was the first Black letterman in UW football. Various sources state he was a letterman in 1921 or in 1923.
Written on verso: Interollegiate Crew Cup of U.S. Won by Wash.
Written on photo: George Wilson. Written on verso: George. Half-back. [illeg.] First year on [illeg.].
62a is Portrait of Maude Hanley [sp?] Photographer Hartsock.Written on photo: To the famous Elmer Tesreau/ Best wishes from Maude Hanley [sp?]. 62b is Three men standing in front of train. 62c is Man in cardigan. 63d is Two men standing inside the ventilator on a steam ship. 62e-g is Scenes from UW baseball trip to Japan.
Written on photo: Guttormsen 1924.
Written on verso: Cal 0 vs. Wash 7
Photo was probably used in Tyee and you can see some masking that was put on the photo.
Written on photo: Myron Hanley. Written on verso: W vs WSAC/ 1924 UW Stadium.
Written on verso: W.S.C. at Wash.
Written on verso: Navy [illeg.] New Years Game. Navy 14 Wash 14 Pasadena 1924.