Let’s remember former UW president Henry Schmitz, who drowned on this day in 1965 (January 30)
Slow history day, so let’s see what HistoryLink tells us:
On January 30, 1965, University of Washington President Emeritus Henry Schmitz (1892–1965) drowns in an accident in Dungeness Bay (Clallam County). Schmitz was a successful teacher, author, and administrator. Born in 1892 to immigrant parents who made their mark on Seattle history (as did Schmitz’s brother, Dietrich), Schmitz likewise made his mark, most notably when he served as president of the University of Washington between 1952 and 1958.
They go on…
On July 16, 1952, Schmitz took the reins as the 24th president of the University of Washington. Some ado has been made that he was the first UW graduate to become president. This is partially correct: Schmitz succeeded acting president H. P. Everest (1893–1967), who was also a UW graduate. Schmitz’s tenure occurred during a time of growth at the university, with an emphasis on research and graduate education that was supported by federal and state dollars. When his retirement date came up in 1957 he served one more year at the request of the Board of Regents, finally stepping down on August 1, 1958. He was named president emeritus of the UW later that year.
Schmitz continued his work with the university after retiring as its president. He became director of the UW’s Council of Gifts, Trusts, and Bequests, and served in this position until 1962. “In that role he assisted countless young people in reaching educational goals that in many cases would otherwise have been unattainable,” eulogized an editorial in The Seattle Times in 1965.
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