Mr. Garrett was born just outside Marshall, Texas in the late 1940s. He went to college at Wiley College in Marshall and participated in a March after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Soon after graduating, Mr. Garrett began his career working in the Lufkin State School. During the interview, Mr. Garrett discussed his life working for the Lufkin State School which housed (voluntary and involuntary) disabled individuals in multiple capacities (40+ years), he discussed his role in trying to provide social services for the Lufkin community as well through various organizations.