Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Mourns the Loss of Walt Garrison
October 12, 2023 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Former Oklahoma State and Dallas Cowboys standout Walt Garrison passed away this week at the age of 79.
After growing up in Lewisville, Texas, Garrison arrived at Oklahoma State in the fall of 1962 and played football for the Cowboys from then through the 1965 season.
Coming to the university as a linebacker, he played that position for one year and was then moved to the backfield where he stayed for the rest of his career.
His junior year in 1964, Garrison led the Big Eight in rushing with 730 yards, beating out Jim Grisham and Gale Sayers, and was named to the conference all-academic team.
During his senior year in 1965 he was named to the All-Big Eight team after finishing the season with 924 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and he helped the Cowboys defeat the Sooners for the first time in twenty years in the last game of his OSU career.
After that season, he played in the East–West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, the Coaches All-America Game and the College All-Star Game. He finished his OSU career with seven 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 173 yards against Kansas State.
Following his career in Stillwater, Garrison was selected by Dallas in the fifth round of the 1966 NFL Draft and played a nine-year NFL career entirely with the Cowboys, winning the Super Bowl in 1972 and playing a vital role on the team in each year of his career. He retired from Dallas as the third-leading rusher and fourth-leading receiver in team history.
Away from the football field, Garrison also spent time on the professional rodeo circuit during football offseason.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and in 2000 he was inducted into the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor. He was also named to the Dallas Cowboys' 25th anniversary team and was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
After growing up in Lewisville, Texas, Garrison arrived at Oklahoma State in the fall of 1962 and played football for the Cowboys from then through the 1965 season.
Coming to the university as a linebacker, he played that position for one year and was then moved to the backfield where he stayed for the rest of his career.
His junior year in 1964, Garrison led the Big Eight in rushing with 730 yards, beating out Jim Grisham and Gale Sayers, and was named to the conference all-academic team.
During his senior year in 1965 he was named to the All-Big Eight team after finishing the season with 924 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and he helped the Cowboys defeat the Sooners for the first time in twenty years in the last game of his OSU career.
After that season, he played in the East–West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, the Coaches All-America Game and the College All-Star Game. He finished his OSU career with seven 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 173 yards against Kansas State.
Following his career in Stillwater, Garrison was selected by Dallas in the fifth round of the 1966 NFL Draft and played a nine-year NFL career entirely with the Cowboys, winning the Super Bowl in 1972 and playing a vital role on the team in each year of his career. He retired from Dallas as the third-leading rusher and fourth-leading receiver in team history.
Away from the football field, Garrison also spent time on the professional rodeo circuit during football offseason.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and in 2000 he was inducted into the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor. He was also named to the Dallas Cowboys' 25th anniversary team and was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
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