William Harold Garrett has distinguished himself as genuinely in business as in the athletic arena in which he so excelled early in life.
A four-sport letterman in high school, Garrett played fullback for South Georgia Junior College before joining the Louisiana College Wildcat football team on a scholarship in 1950. He lettered in football and baseball for two years under Coach Jimmy Keeth.
Following graduation, Garrett was presented with the opportunity to work out with the Green Bay Packers, an offer he declined. Instead, he pursued a career in education, teaching high school and coaching football, track, and b-team basketball.
Earning a Master of Education degree at the University of Georgia, Garrett continued his teaching at high schools in Georgia. His business career began with a position with the Saturday Evening Post and as one of the original salesmen for QSP, a division of Readers Digest.
He began Nationwide Industries and served as the president and CEO of the company. Before his retirement, he also began Carpetile, Inc., located in LaGrange, Ga. Active with his church, he teaches Sunday School and has been on several mission trips.
Garrett and his wife, Gloria (a 1953 Louisiana College alumna), have four children – Steve, Teri, Ron, and Bill – and eight grandchildren.
The Wildcat Athletic Association inducted William Harold Garrett into the Louisiana College Sports Hall of Fame on October 29, 2005.
