Garrett, Mark

Throughout his long ProRodeo career, Mark Garrett was known for his ability to perform under pressure, and that was never more evident than when he won his only gold buckle with a clutch ride in Round 10 at the 1996 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. His 83 points on Big Bend Rodeo Company’s Spring Fling – a 2014 inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame – allowed him to win the round, the world title, the NFR average title and set a then-bareback riding record of 786 points on 10 head. Garrett also set the NFR bareback riding earnings record that year with $78,517, allowing him to make the jump from fourth place entering the NFR to claim the gold buckle; he overcame a deficit of nearly $30,000 to his older brother, Marvin, who led the regular-season standings and was a four-time world champion. Further evidence of Garrett’s ability to come through on the biggest stages came at the 1996 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, where Garrett won both the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament-style rodeo. Garrett qualified for the NFR nine times (1989-91, 1994-97, 1999-2000). Apart from his world championship in 1996, his highest finishes were third in 1995, sixth in 2000 and seventh in 1994 and 1999. “It’s dang sure an honor to be inducted,” Garrett said. “A lot of your heroes and your friends are in the Hall of Fame, but I sure didn’t plan on joining them. You don’t really count on something like this, but I’m sure happy that it happened. It’s an honor to be mentioned with these guys.” He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2015.