Born on a farm near Gorman, Texas, Garrett attended the public schools and Hankins' Normal College in his native city.

He engaged in the real estate, insurance, and banking businesses 1920-1922.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination to the Seventy-ninth Congress in 1944.

Technical assistant, Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, Texas from 1949 to 1950.

Manager, Veterans Administration regional office, Waco, Texas from 1951 to 1956.