Explore the events surrounding the death of the sports legend Walt Garrison, shedding light on his age at the time of passing. Delve into his remarkable early life as an American sports icon and examine the enduring legacy he has left behind, influencing both the realms of football and rodeo.
Walter Garrison Obituary
The legendary football player, fullback, and rodeo cowboy Walt Garrison have passed away after leading the Big 8 in the running for Oklahoma State. He was 79. On Thursday, the NFL team’s website reported that Garrison had died during the night. The reason for death was not specified.
Garrison, who was drafted in the fifth round out of Oklahoma State, played with the Dallas Cowboys for nine years before retiring in 1974 as the team’s third all-time leading rusher and fourth all-time leading receiver. He still ranks fourth all-time in Dallas in rushing average (4.32 ypc) and ninth all-time in rushing yards (3,491).
This man was a true gentleman and Cowboy, his storytelling was magnificent!! RIP Walt Garrison. ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/bbpgpLtomG
— tony casillas (@tccasillas) October 12, 2023
The Daniels family is sad to hear of the passing of Dallas Cowboys legend, Walt Garrison. The painting below was from an 80s Skoal/Copenhagen ad with Earl Campbell. Dad & Walt were also team roping partners. RIP, Walt. Hope you & Dad rope some heavenly steers together. – CD, Jr. pic.twitter.com/nF6c0zYZOa
— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) October 13, 2023
So sad to hear the passing of Walt Garrison. One of the great former Cowboys I had the pleasure to know. Kind and funny. A good combo. Invited Joe Willie and Luke to ride his horses on his ranch and I am glad I took him up on the offer. RIP Walt pic.twitter.com/82JRSfAOKl
— Babe Laufenberg (@BabeLaufenberg) October 13, 2023
Who Was Walt Garrison?
Famous American athlete Walt Garrison had a successful career as both a professional football player and a rodeo cowboy. Garrison started his adventure at Lewisville High School, where he was an outstanding athlete in three different sports.
Following high school, he won a football scholarship at Oklahoma State University, where he played both linebacker and running back. During his time at college, he outperformed stars like Gale Sayers and finished as the Big 8’s all-time running leader. During his nine years with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, Garrison made an indelible mark as a star running back and wide receiver. His unique selling point, however, was his enthusiasm for rodeo.
Early Years And Career
Garrison, who grew up in Denton, Texas, was supposed to play defensive linebacker at Oklahoma State University, but his coach, Phil Cutchin, had other plans. Garrison was moved to the position of running back, which he had never played previously but was well suited for.
As a junior, he topped the Big Eight Conference in rushing, and as a senior, he finished in second place. In addition to being inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor, he also participated in the College All-Star Game in his position.
After being picked by the Dallas Cowboys in 1966, he moved back to his native state, where he mostly served as a kickoff returner for the first two seasons. In 1969, he switched positions and became a star at fullback. In the 1971–72 season, Garrison was a key cog in the team’s success, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl that year.
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Unfortunately, Garrison’s tough off-field lifestyle and on-field injuries led to his retirement in 1974. To earn his reputation as a “real cowboy,” Garrison would compete in professional rodeos during the off-season, where he would wrestle steer, promote chewing tobacco, and regale audiences with exciting tales.
During an exhibition run at the U.S. Tobacco-sponsored national collegiate rodeo in Bozeman, Montana in 1975, Garrison tore up his knee while steer wrestling, forcing him to retire from the NFL at the age of 30.
Rest in peace to Dallas Cowboy, OSU Cowboy, and larger-than-life American cowboy Walt Garrison 💙 pic.twitter.com/MJU9gPXVnB
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 12, 2023
“There’s a lot of similarities between rodeo and football,” Garrison said, drawing a parallel between the three or four seconds it takes to wrestle a steer to the ground and the length of a normal NFL play. To paraphrase, “And the amount of energy and focus you need to have in bulldogging is the same as in football.”
Garrison, a native Texan, attended Lewisville High School and starred in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. He started out playing linebacker at Oklahoma State before switching to running back. In 1964, he finished ahead of Kansas’ Gale Sayers to lead the Big 8 in rushing, and in 1965, he ran for 924 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games.
His biography, co-written with John Tullius, came out in 1988 under the title “Once a Cowboy.” He also founded a multiple sclerosis organization named after him. Garrison has been inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame as well as the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and he also played on the Cowboys’ 25th Anniversary Team.
