1964-1967

J.D. Garrett was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on November 28, 1941. He graduated from Central High School and then went on to Grambling State.

As a high school athlete for the Central High Gophers, he ran a 9.7 100-yard dash and played in the state high school all-star basketball game, along with running for 2,956 yards as a 6-0, 178-pound running back. 

At Grambling, he earned his undergraduate degree in education, while becoming an All-American football star for Coach Eddie Robinson's Tigers. He ran for 2,581 yards in three seasons at Grambling

He later earned a master's in education from Northwestern State and was drafted in the 8th round in 1964. He became a running back and kick returner for the Boston Patriots, from 1964 to 1967. He ran for 600 yards as a Patriots rookie and played five years before knee problems forced his retirement.

After his pro career, he was a career teacher and coach in the Natchitoches Parish School System. He began his coaching and teaching career at Central High School, where he notably served as the longtime head basketball coach and assistant football coach. He was a pivotal figure in influencing a successful integration of parish schools in the early 1970s.

He worked at City of Natchitoches swimming pools for 59 years where many children learned how to swim because of Coach Garrett’s guidance and instruction. He and his sister were recognized by the City of Natchitoches for their dedication to the City’s pools, when the city named its spray park in their honor, "Garrett Spray Park".

J.D. Garrett passed away while at one of the city pools on July 4, 2012, in his hometown of Natchitoches. He was 74 years old.