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Walt Garrison, Dallas Cowboys legend, dies at age 79

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton10/12/23

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walt garrison
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Walt Garrison was a throwback fullback who used to ride the rodeo circuit as soon as the Dallas Cowboys season ended. And later in his career, he gained fame as a national spokesman for Skoal.

So call Garrison the ultimate cowboy whether he was in season or not for the Dallas Cowboys or earlier, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, where he was a collegiate star. On Wednesday, he died at the age of 79. Pokes Report, which covers Oklahoma State, confirmed the news of his death. The site said Garrison had been residing in a memory care facility in Weatherford, Texas, about a 30-minute drive from where his Cowboys play each Sunday.

The Oklahoma State football social media account also shared a post, mourning the loss of this thoroughly authentic Texan.

News of Garrison’s death started breaking on social media late Wednesday and early Thursday morning. Tony Casillas, a former Dallas Cowboy turned media host, wrote: “This man was a true gentleman and Cowboy, his storytelling was magnificent!! RIP Walt Garrison.”

Traces of Texas, a popular X account devoted to all things Lone Star State, shared a photo of Garrison in his Dallas Cowboys uniform. Garrison was the perfect Dallas Cowboy representative in the 1970s, when the team first started surging in popularity. He grew up in a town outside Dallas, so he never was far from home.

The account shared a quote from the late Don Meredith, another legendary Cowboy, about Garrison.

Garrison’s pro football career started before the NFL merger. So both the Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs drafted him in 1966. The Cowboys gave him a convertible and a horse trailer as his signing bonus. Garrison was a kick returner early on, then he moved up the running back depth chart. By 1971, Garrison even led the Super Bowl champions in receiving.

And you couldn’t keep him off the field. He played in the 1970 NFC title game against the 49ers with a cracked collarbone and a sprained ankle. Neither injury prevented him from carrying the ball 17 times for 71 yards.

Sports Illustrated used a photo of him for their 1972 NFL preview cover. During that season, he needed 16 stitches to close the gash on his finger. He’d accidentally cut himself while whittling. Then after the season ended, Garrison played in the Pro Bowl, despite a cut on the face he sustained while steer wrestling days before.

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Overall, he played nine seasons with the Cowboys, retiring as the team’s third all-time leading rusher (3,886 yards) and fourth-best receiver (1,794).

Walt Garrison earned spots in both the Texas and Oklahoma sports Halls of Fame. And check out one of his Skoal commercials below. Just a little pinch between your cheek and gums. …

Garrison competed for the Oklahoma State rodeo team for a year before his pro football career started. Cowboys coach Tom Landry didn’t want him to compete during the season. But Landry said yes to off-season events.

Eventually, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inducted Garrison. Marty Garrison, Walt’s son, told the organization:

“His first love was rodeo, no doubt, ever since he was really young,” Marty said of his dad. “That’s what he would have done had he not played football in college and then got drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. His whole life, his love was rodeo.”