(RepublicanJournal.org) – Walt Garrison, the pro football player who took the Dallas Cowboys to the Superbowl in 1972, has passed away. The legendary fullback awed sports fans by helping his team win the game with an amazing final score of 24-3. The NFL player, also a rodeo superstar in his own right, was regarded by many as a true cowboy.
Garrison began his football career at Lewisville High School, where he proved himself a natural on the field. From there, he played for Oklahoma State University, where he began as a linebacker but eventually moved to fullback. His skills helped lead his team to victory against rival Oklahoma for the first time in 20 years. By the end of his college career, he had seven 100-yard rushing games under his belt. Asked why he chose Oklahoma State over all the other universities he could have attended, he replied that it was the only one that gave him a scholarship option.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Garrison in 1966, and he went on to play for the team for nine years. The highlight of his career came in 1971 when he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl for scoring 10 touchdowns and moving the ball 1,174 yards in total. Then, the following year, the Cowboys went head-to-head against the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl and won. Texas has only emerged victorious in five Super Bowls over the last 52 years.
Garrison made a name for himself as a rodeo cowboy as well — a career that he also began back in his high school years. He competed in numerous events including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and calf roping. His Dallas Cowboys coach, Tom Landry, allowed him to continue competing in rodeos during the offseason until he tore a ligament in his knee, ultimately ending his professional sports career.
Garrison had been living with Alzheimer’s disease before his death. He was 79 years old.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanJournal.org
