The Cowboy's Cowboy

Walt Garrison (born July 23, 1944, in Denton, Texas) is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys.

 

Garrison was drafted in the fifth round of the 1966 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State University where he was a two-time All Big Eight Conference choice. Garrison attended Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas.

 

 

Known for his toughness and dependability, Garrison took over at fullback after the retirement of Don Perkins in 1968. He led the team in receiving in 1971 with 40 catches and a 9.9 per catch average. He finished his career with 3,886 yards rushing and 1,794 yards receiving. Walt played in Super Bowl VI in 1972 when the Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins to become World Champions.

 

A "real" cowboy, Garrison spent time on the professional rodeo circuit during the football off-seasons. His signing bonus with the Cowboys in 1966 included a horse trailer.

 

 

Garrison was a long-time spokesman for Skoal smokeless tobacco. In 1988 he published his biography "Once a Cowboy" with writer John Tullius. The title is a reference to not only his rodeo cowboy career, but also his career with the Dallas Cowboys, and his college career as one of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

 

He is an inductee in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas.

 

 

One of the more humorous sports quotes was attributed to the late Cowboy quarterback Don Meredith speaking about Garrison's dependability, "If it was third down, and you needed four yards, if you'd get the ball to Walt Garrison, he'd get ya five. And if it was third down and ya needed 20 yards, if you'd get the ball to Walt Garrison, by God, he'd get you five."

 

The consummate businessman and all American Cowboy, Walt has written two books, runs his ranch and now has created a line of authentic western food products.

 

 

What would you expect from the Cowboy's Cowboy?