Walter Benton Garrison was born on July 23, 1944, in Denton, Texas. He grew up in Lewisville and played linebacker for the Fighting Farmers. He also played baseball, and competed in track. He was also involved in FFA and competed in high school rodeo. Walt graduated from Lewisville High School in 1962 and earned a scholarship to play football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
After his freshman year and a coaching change, Walt was moved to running back. In 1964, his junior year, he led the Big Eight in rushing, eclipsing Jim Grisham and Gale Sayers, and was named to the Conference All-Academic team. In Walt’s senior year, he was named to The All Big Eight Team after finishing the season with 924 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. In Walt’s last game of his OSU career, he helped the OSU Cowboys defeat the Oklahoma Sooners for the first time in 20 years.
After completing his eligibility with OSU, Walt spent a year with the OSU Rodeo Team. The highlights of Walt’s rodeo career were placing fifth in the steer wrestling average at the 1974 Cheyenne Frontier Days, and being inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2018.
In 1966 Walt was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the NFL draft. His signing bonus included a 2-horse Miley trailer. Walt played nine seasons for the Cowboys, winning the Super Bowl in 1972 against the Miami Dolphins. In 1972, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The photo was of Walt in the Super Bowl VII victory. He was named to the Dallas Cowboy’s 25th Anniversary team.
Walt was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1993 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2000 he was inducted into the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 1975 Walt was hired by US Tobacco where he appeared in commercials, print ads and worked in their Marketing Events Promotion Department. He was instrumental in the US Tobacco sponsorship of Pro Rodeo. He retired from US Tobacco in 1996.
Walt’s accomplishments extended beyond his years on the football field and in the rodeo arena. He raised over $4 million for Multiple Sclerosis through his Walt Garrison All Star Rodeo. His charitable involvement also included serving on the board of directors for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund for more than 20 years.
It is these characteristics that are emblematic of an individual who has made a significant contribution to our heritage, traditions, set of values and dedication to the preservation of the Western way of life.