Date of Birth: 1942
Place of Birth: Need Info
Current Location: Roxboro, North Carolina
For over 40 years, this husband-and-wife team worked in concert to provide an education and produce the impetus of the “Golden Age” of taxidermy. As Ralph has stated many times, it was Sandy who polished his work, assisted him, and made him look as if he were educated.
When he began his work teaching taxidermy at Piedmont Community College (PCC) in Roxboro, North Carolina, the classes were purely vocational. As the years passed, the school required more academic and education concepts to be included in the curriculum. Sandy also attended the extra curriculum classes that were part of the Taxidermy program to see if the college requirements could help the taxidermy students build their own business after they finished at the college. Afterwards, she modified their lesson plans to ensure that any required courses would benefit their students.
At the same time, Ralph was insistent that no one method, supply company, or antiquated concept be taught to allow independent techniques of the students. Between the two, the classes eventually included biology, anatomy, business procedures, finances, and freeze-dry technology. In the classroom they also included helping the students to have an overall understanding of state and federal laws that must be observed by the taxidermist as well as proper record keeping for them to learn how to comply with these laws.
In the 20+ years the course was active, there were 1100 students enrolled and 980 of them completed the course and graduated. Included in the 980 students who completed all requirements for the taxidermy program, there were six (6) international students. At times a student would come to take only one of the main four courses, such as game heads, small game, fish or birds. All these courses were accredited by the state of North Carolina.
The college offered a one semester break for Ralph to go “back to industry” to further his knowledge and skills. He worked with Rick Morgan and Kevin White at Taxidermy International/Carolina Fur Dressing, while Sandy stayed at PCC and kept the program going. Ralph would return on Mondays only to give demos and interact with the students. Ralph had the opportunity to expand his knowledge of African and Asian game, tanning, as well as crating and shipping.
Piedmont Community College in addition to the full-time curriculum had a once-a-year weekend event called the “The Taxidermy Mini Course”. Attending the mini course was how Ralph learned about the college and the job opportunity as full-time instructor. Classes were filled within days of advertising with many having to be declined simply because of time and class constraints. The turnout was so great that the small town of Roxboro was unable to provide lodging for the students. It’s not unusual to hear those who did attend talking about sleeping in their own vehicles or tents, because of the lack of facilities. In addition to Ralph’s teaching the full-time curriculum he normally taught seminars at the mini course, while Sandy worked in the competition area.
Both Ralph and Sandy served extended terms with the North Carolina Taxidermy Association in all the offices therein. Both presented seminars at the NTA and the World Taxidermy Championships® (WTC). Sandy served multiple times as assistant competition coordinator under Skip Skidmore at the WTC. Ralph worked as seminar coordinator at the WTC. He also served as a judge at 122 state, national and world competitions. With her background in newspaper work, Ralph relied heavily on Sandy proofing, correcting, and modifying his professional articles of which there were 21 Breakthrough Magazine, 46 Taxidermy Today, 4 American Taxidermy, and 28 NTA Outlook articles. Ralph also wrote a chapter called “skinning and mounting poisonous reptiles” in Tim Kelly’s book about taxidermy. Ralph served on the NTA board of directors and as both vice-president and president of the NTA.
Today, the mere mention of “Piedmont” elicits an almost sacred right of progression in taxidermy and has certainly found its way into many professional resume’s. The singular contributions of Ralph and Sandy Garland opened the frontier of taxidermy shows, competitions, and conventions now held around the nation and the world. Their contributions so richly deserve inclusion and honors bestowed by the Taxidermy Hall of Fame.
