John Garlington
Encyclopedia
John M. Garlington was an American football
linebacker
who played ten seasons in the National Football League
(1968–1977) with the Cleveland Browns
.
Garlington graduated in 1964 from Jonesboro-Hodge High School
. He was a star college athlete at Louisiana State University
. At LSU, he was a 1967 Kodak/American Football Coaches Association
pick. He was also a First-Team All-SEC
pick in 1966 by the Associated Press
and in 1967 by both the AP and United Press International
. He was described as an "Incredible athlete whose talents typified his play and teamwork. Had excellent speed and lateral pursuit. Opponents were timid when it came to attacking his side of the defensive line. Even with his size, he was a speed merchant. In the 1966 Rice
encounter, John picked off an errant pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown."
) with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries - Enforcement Division
. He was promoted to the rank of Captain, in 1998, and was the commander of the department's Region 1 office near Shreveport, Louisiana
. Prior to assuming command of Region 1, Garlington held the rank of Sergeant, and was assigned to the department's Statewide Strike Force. Garlington died in the line of duty, from drowning
, while investigating a poaching
complaint near his home on the Mill Creek Reservoir near Saline, LA
in Bienville Parish
. He had been on the force for 14 years. Garlington was survived by his wife Karon Garlington.
He is buried at the Ebeneezer Cemetery off Louisiana Highway 508 in Bienville Parish. His son, Jonesboro police officer John Moses Garlington, was previously buried at this same cemetery in the spring of 1994.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played ten seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(1968–1977) with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Garlington graduated in 1964 from Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Jonesboro-Hodge High School is a high school located in North Central Louisiana. It is located in Jonesboro in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. The school mascot is the Tiger, named after LSU. The colors are scarlet and royal blue...
. He was a star college athlete at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. At LSU, he was a 1967 Kodak/American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
pick. He was also a First-Team All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
pick in 1966 by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and in 1967 by both the AP and United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. He was described as an "Incredible athlete whose talents typified his play and teamwork. Had excellent speed and lateral pursuit. Opponents were timid when it came to attacking his side of the defensive line. Even with his size, he was a speed merchant. In the 1966 Rice
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
encounter, John picked off an errant pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown."
Law enforcement career
After leaving professional football, Garlington worked, from 1986, as a Wildlife Enforcement Agent (game wardenGame warden
A game warden is an employee who has the role of protecting wildlife. Game wardens may also be referred to as conservation officers or wildlife officers...
) with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries - Enforcement Division
Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries - Enforcement Division
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdiction anywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety...
. He was promoted to the rank of Captain, in 1998, and was the commander of the department's Region 1 office near Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. Prior to assuming command of Region 1, Garlington held the rank of Sergeant, and was assigned to the department's Statewide Strike Force. Garlington died in the line of duty, from drowning
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
, while investigating a poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
complaint near his home on the Mill Creek Reservoir near Saline, LA
Saline, Louisiana
Saline is a village in southeastern Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 296 at the 2000 census. Saline is pronounced: ....
in Bienville Parish
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
. He had been on the force for 14 years. Garlington was survived by his wife Karon Garlington.
He is buried at the Ebeneezer Cemetery off Louisiana Highway 508 in Bienville Parish. His son, Jonesboro police officer John Moses Garlington, was previously buried at this same cemetery in the spring of 1994.