| Birth Date: | 22 January 1905[1] |
| Birth Place: | Madison County, Missouri, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Seattle, Washington, U.S.[2] |
| Position: | Fullback |
| Highschool: | Chehalis (Washington) |
| Pastschools: | Washington (1923 - 1925) |
| Bowlgames: | Rose Bowl (1924, 1926) |
| Highlights: |
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.
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]
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]