Hall of Fame

John was born July 9, 1940 in St. Peter, Minnesota. He  attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts as a freshman in high school.  One of his 21 merit badges was in taxidermy. He went to college to become an aerospace engineer (yes he was a rocket scientist). He received his Masters Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Denver and worked toward a PhD in Applied Mechanics at the University of Washington.  He worked for Martin Marietta Aerospace and Boeing Aircraft from 1963-1987. He experimented with taxidermy from 1983-1987 and his first competition was at the 1983 World Taxidermy Competition in Lawrence, Kansas.  In 1987 he decided to change careers and started Lone Wolf Taxidermy in Littleton, Colorado. which he operated until 2011 when he retired after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2009.

John joined the Colorado Taxidermists Association in 1983 and served as President in 1987 & 1988 and again  from 2001-2004 as well as serving as a Board Member. He was a member until his retirement in 2011. He won the Colorado Best All Around Taxidermist Award from 1990-2008, an accomplishment that will probably never be equaled.   He also served on the National Taxidermist Association Board of Directors from 2002-2005 and won the National Best All Around Taxidermist Award an unprecedented 9 times from 1999-2006 and again in 2008. He did not attend the convention in 2007. He won the International Guild of Taxidermy Best International Taxidermist in 1996, North American Fish Champion in 2000, a World title in 2005 as well as numerous Best of Category and Best of Show Awards at state and National competitions. He attained Division of Excellence in all categories at the National Taxidermist Association as well as NTA Judge Certifications in all categories.   He has written numerous articles for National taxidermy magazines and has made several "how-to" videos for Breakthrough Magazine. One of John's most unique mounts was one he created following the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. Called "Forever Columbine" he designed it as a memorial to those who were injured and died. John and Barb had a grandson attending Columbine High School at the time. The mount featured a white ptarmigan perched on an outstretched hand and a glass columbine flower. It was first presented and the National Taxidermists Association competition and was featured in a Breakthrough Magazine article. One publication referred to John as "the man who brings dead animals to life, dominating the taxidermy profession like nobody before him, and possibly the best competitive taxidermist this country has ever seen".

I was born November 18, 1950, in Rifle, Colo., on the second floor of the doctor’s house, as

there was no hospital in Rifle in 1950. We lived on a ranch on West Divide Creek for a couple of

years then moved into town where I attended first and second grade in Rifle before my parents

moved to Canon City, and then on to Littleton in 1958. I graduated from Sheridan High School

in 1968 before attending Colorado School of Mines for a year studying engineering and then

transferred to Colorado State University where I graduated in 1973 with a degree in Business

Administration. In 1975 I married Rhonda, the love of my life and soulmate. We have a son and

2 daughters. God willing, we will be married 50 years in September this year- how time flies!

We have 6 grandsons, 2 granddaughters and 2 great grandsons. I worked as a journeyman

electrician for 15 years before obtaining my Master Electrician license in 1987 and eventually

opening Franklin Electric, Heating and Air Conditioning in Littleton in 1994.

I started fishing with my Dad and Uncles when I was old enough to walk and began tagging

along deer hunting with my Dad and Uncle, who was a guide and outfitter in the Rifle-Meeker

area, when I was 12 years old. In those days you had to be 14 to hunt big game. A deer license

was $7.50. You could get a second tag for $5 and could use the second tag for 2 deer or a deer

and a bear! I was always infatuated with the mounts we would see in various sporting good

stores and shops, as well as the few mounts my uncle had. In 1969 I was lucky enough to kill a

big 4 point mulie and knew I had to have it mounted, even though it was going to cost a

whopping $90! Throughout the next year I would stop by the taxidermist’s shop and talk to him

about the process. Taxidermists in those days were not eager “to share their secrets”. I found an

ad in the back of Outdoor Life magazine and in 1970 enrolled in the Northwestern School of

Taxidermy correspondence course out of Nebraska. In those days we wrapped bird and small

mammal bodies out of excelsior, used various “stuffing” methods for fish and used paper forms

for game heads and medium to large life-size. I mounted several of my own animals and then as

always happens, friends and hunting and fishing buddies wanted me to mount their animals as

well. I began my own part time taxidermy business around 1972. I attended the NTA convention

in Denver in 1978 and was on my way. I taught the taxidermy course at Front Range Community

College for 3 years in the late 1980’s and had several students go on to open their own business.

I eventually joined the Colorado Taxidermist Association in 1989 where my first competition

piece won me a second-place ribbon with an open wing, open mouth wood duck. I was secretary

of the CTA from 1993-1995, on the board from 95-97, CTA President from 1997-1999 and have

been treasurer since 1999. My son and son-in-law have both been CTA members and officers,

and my 2 oldest grandsons have competed as well. I am a life member of both the CTA and

NTA. Throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s I won numerous ribbons and Best of Category

awards with game heads, large life size mammals, small life size mammals, upland birds,

waterfowl and fish. I seldom competed with the same species twice. I have received the NTA

Outstanding Service Award, the McKenzie Distinguished Service award in 1999 and CTA

Longevity Service Award in 2012

Although I no longer compete, I treasure the many lifelong friends I have made in the association

and thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie of the group and am especially excited to see all the new

young people joining. It is great to see all the young women taxidermists getting involved,

something that was very rare back in the day! And how refreshing it is to see the taxidermists

these days willing “to share their secrets”!

It has been the pleasure of my life to have participated in the profession/art/craft of taxidermy.  Truly a dream come true.

It all began when I was 3 or 4 -1961 or 62 -and was traveling to Alamosa to visit good friends of my folks-Byron and Betty Joe Searing.. Byron thought we would like to go see a man he knew who had pet mountain lions that were used in a Disney move and other advertisements.. we jumped on it and bailed not knowing it would have the profound effect on me it did. 

Went into a large building that smelled of tanned hides, animals, and hound dogs.  on the walls were shoulder mounts, rugs were stretched on tables, and life size were on the walls and floor.  For some reason i felt at home and knew this is where i wanted to be.  Incredable, amazing, and wonderful.

When recounting my experience to Greg Brumfield-man of all things "valley"-the name of Ernie Wilkensen imediatly came to his mind and knew exactly what I was describing.  Like many it was the beginning of the JW Ewood and Leon Prey days.  

there was no road kill that escaped my inspection, squirrels and starlings fell prey to the .177  

Mom was quite a baker and when friends were over for dinner one eve a loaf of french bread was unrolled from the freezer disguising itself as a road kill  red fox skin  quite a shock but all took it in stride with a chuckle, im sure softend up with a cocktail or two.  A topic of discussion at all family/friend gatherings for many

years.

After graduating -within a lizards eyelash-from Boulder  high school in '76 it was painfully obvious that academia was not in the wheelhouse and another direction had to be traveled-alwasys with the memory of Earnie Wilkensens shop in mind.  Traveling with the carnival, working in the woods, carrying furniture for North American Van lines, thinking that fur trapping was kinda fun but didnt come close to paying alot of bills.  Even worked at a lodge in SE AK for 7 months.  But always came back to the memory of the tanned hides, antlers hanging from racks....

Us guys decided that a camping trip was in the plan for a week so loaded up but noticed there was a Taxidermy Review Comp and Show to be going on at the hotel on the N W corner of I25 and I70- and it was on the way outof town

The second of three  career hints.  While slack jawed and drooling over Toby Harts laying down LS Caribou Joe Kish introduced himself and we discussed many things taxidermy.  it was an amazing dream come true.  by today's standards not impressive I am sure but for the time- stellar.  

At that time Harry Paulsons Mountain Valley School of taxidermy was starting and off to Phoenix I went.  Turns out one of the other guys in attendance was Karl Brooks from Fort Collins.  we have develope a friendship and have night hunted and fished some and he lives just down the road..We both were original members of the CTA.

Finding out that the manikins should start with a skeleton-like the laying down caribou- and be reconstructed, cast and manufactured I went to the Taxidermy Review and contacted forest Hart about some time to do just that- an experience I will never forget.  

realizing this is truely what i want my life's work to be I started at the upper frontier of Fort Collins-it used to be- and worked my way south trying to find someone that would take me on for just gas money and a pbj for lunch to work and learn.  

The end of that line ended with Doug Cox in I think in Lafayette or Louisville  He suggested I go speak with Doug Gish at Heads West in Denver.

I had a great talk with Mr Gish, toured the facility and went on my merry way, loaded  with rabbits feet, 4 leaf clovers and anyother good luck talisman that was available. 

 I started the following week--terrified.

Each of the following studios/coworkers provided me with income, education,amd most of all the honor and privilege to work among the greats of the industry- some names are instantly recognizable and some not so much but each worthy of great respect and appreciation. 

Please forgive spelling

 Heads West, Denver

Paul Eberhardt-Taxidermist and pioneer of casting and production of foam mannikins.

Jim Paggliotti-Veteran taxidermist with experience at Downtown Jonas, Joe Jonas Jr and earlier studio in CA -experience with all mammals

Gary Kennedy-Fluency with alterations, custom work, fiberglass mannikins, years at Klienenburgers in Seattle

Ted Kersey-finishing, habitat,rug work, carpentry.  First class shop hand

  Nelsons AAA, Anchorage

Joe Romero- Alaskan icon, overwhelming knowledge of AK fur bearers, Ovid and Capra. No better sheep taxidermist, fishing god

Robert Holshouser-taxidermist, bronze artist, avian and mammal master

 World Trek, Pueblo

Gary Kennady-as previously described

Ted jKearsey- as previously described

 Animal; Artistry, Reno

Mike Boyce- 'big picture' taxidermist, promoter, visionary, artist, designer, speaker

Sarah Rose-as fine a deer taxidermist as there is, sculpture, artist,

Gary Kennedy-master taxidermist-engineered and mounted Af lion dragging zebra-often copied, never duplicated

Cliff Hales-developed into quite and artist, taxidermist, sculptor. Started  "Reflections" in WI  

Dwyane Dewey-a true master-need I say more

Phill Sousy-Feline God and one of the funniest people ive worked around

Jim Brandberg-master of all disciplines, modeled many mouth cups, artist, unbeatable laugh

Carlos Padila-arrived with little experience but left being one of the best, hard focused

Kevin LIbby-solid taxidermist/artist, promoter, habitat master,unstoppable commitment, hunter, guide

Ted Kersey- developed into the best African finisher ive seen.

Eagle River Taxidermy, Eagle River AK

Robert Holshouser- master but drifted into other endeavors

San Juan Wildlife Arts, Montrose

self employed since '99, love the work but despise/hate/repulsed by all  the aspects of business

Non Typical Taxidermy- form alterations part time