Ralph Garland, ‘Golden Age’ taxidermist, dies in NC – The Standard Banner

Thursday, August 20, 2026
Ralph Garland, pictured here in 1986, elevated taxidermy by portraying subjects as close to life as possible and in their natural habitats. – Submitted
Ralph Garland, the East Tennessee native who was inducted into the national Taxidermy Hall of Fame last year, died last Wednesday in Roxboro, North Carolina.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. August 29 at Montwood Baptist Church in Roxboro. Garland was 83.
Garland was born in 1942 in Thornill and began working in taxidermy in the 1970s, when he and his wife, Sandy, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, were living in New Market.
His career in taxidermy spanned 40 years, including 20 as a teacher at Piedmont Community College in Foxboro.
The announcement from the Hall of Fame observed that the couple were leaders in a “Golden Age” of taxidermy and provided inspiration for hundreds of students through the years.
The Garlands were taxidermy innovators in the way they sought to portray subjects as close to life as possible and in their natural habitats, instead of merely mounted to wooden plaques.
Their work captures the vitality of the animal and lifts taxidermy to an art form. Garland was known for having the eye of a naturalist, as well as the skills to recreate the image in his workshop.
Ralph and Sandy Garland were featured in an Accent story on October 9, 2025, in The Standard Banner.
Both Garlands served extended terms with the North Carolina Taxidermy Association, and they presented seminars with the National Taxidermy Association and the World Taxidermy Championships. He’s the author of a chapter on preserving poisonous reptiles that appears in Tim Kelly’s book, the “Complete Guide to Home Taxidermy.”
Garland also served as judge at 122 national, state and world competitions and was president of the National Taxidermy Association.
Garland is survived by Sandy, his wife of 63 years, as well as children and grandchildren.
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