Larry's Bio

Larry Gardner was born in 1949. He grew up in Shepherd, Texas. Times were tough in those days for everyone, but that never stopped Larry. He hunted and fished when he was not working on the farm. He played all sports in High School. Larry always had a passion for art and felt destined to be an artist. In school, art classes were not offered until his Senior year. This is when Larry had the opportunity to take an art class but told he would start at the beginning - Art I. In three weeks, due to his artistic prowess, Larry was moved from Art I class to Art III. At the end of the year, the principal, recognizing his immense talent, offered Larry a once in a lifetime chance to enter an art contest for a cartoonist for------Walt Disney. The winner would receive a four year scholarship. Larry WON THE CONTEST! As the winner, Larry and his parents were to meet with the schools Art Director. Larry was so excited for the opportunity - a four year Art Scholarship. During this meeting, his Father spoke the words that would forever change his path in life; his Father proclaimed proudly how he had fought for his country in World War II. The United States had entered the Vietnam war and it was already decided - “Larry will go and fight for this country.” His Father asked the Art Director if they would honor this scholarship when he got out of the Army to which it was agreed the four year art scholarship would in fact be honored when and if Larry returned from the Military. On Larry’s 18th birthday, he was sent off to war two months later.

Larry excelled in the Army. When he reached Vietnam they moved him to the First Marine Division as an LP wherein he stayed for seven and a half months; from there, he was sent to the U.S. Army for the remainder of his time there. Sadly, upon Larry’s return from Vietnam, he had lost all interest in art.

Larry was married and had two children. He worked two and three jobs to provide for his family. Later, he would find a career working for BPRefinery in Texas City. He was one of a few top managers for all of construction, safety and maintenance and managed over 500 employees. Larry retired from BP Refinery after 32 years.

At that time, Larry purchased a 400 acre ranch that attaches to the Sam Houston National Forest. Slowly, Larry began to find art filtering back into his soul and one day, began sculpting, out of metal, by hand, two Indians. Once completed, they sit proudly on each side of the entryway of Larry’s ranch.

Larry loves ALL animals. He is a conservationist. He raises bucking bulls, cows and world-class deer.

When Larry’s daughter was a Senior in High School, she asked her Dad if he would build an Indian for her Santa Fe High School, which he did with great pride - a Warrior displayed in their gym - where it has remained for over 20 years.

The National Forest commissioned Larry to build a small Smokey the Bear to be placed in their office by the front door. Larry said he would be honored to build them one but they could not see if until it was completely finished. Smokey the Bear is 6 ft. 5 in. and weighs 900 pounds. The head of the Forest Division in Washington D.C. said he would be honored to attend the presentation of Smokey The Bear. He requested if Smokey could travel the United States and visit other National Forests to which Larry felt so honored his art was worthy of praise and admiration.

During the presentation of Smokey The Bear at the Sam Houston National Forest, Larry met the Golden Hot Shots fire fighters from California wherein they promptly asked if they could come to his ranch to see up close, the Indians he crafted by hand sitting at his front gate. Later, the fire fighters requested if Larry would do them the honor of sculpting a Golden Eagle for them. They showed him a drawing that had an Eagle flying with a chainsaw in one claw and an axe in the other claw. They asked for it to be small as the fire department could not afford much. Larry said he would call them when it was finished. Larry’s vision was different than theirs; he would sculpt a life size fireman kneeling down with a chainsaw in his left hand, looking straight ahead, with his right arm extended straight up holding the axe. The Eagle would be in a flying position with one claw delivering the axe. The Eagle has an 11-foot wingspan, weighs approximately 640 pounds with 300 hand-cut feathers on each wing, no two feathers are alike. The fireman kneeling down, with half of his face representing a fireman with a hard hat and the other half of his face is an Indian Warrior with a wolf head. The Chief of the Fire Department flew in from California to see the sculpture. He was so impressed with Larry’s work, he immediately called the powers that be in California Government wherein he requested that Larry’s sculpture be on full display in the lobby at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. Larry was honored his art was embraced and valued.

Larry was once asked, “Where does your talent come from.?” to which Larry simply spoke the truth of his artistic gift - “It is a Gift that God has blessed me with.”

When Larry thinks about a piece of art he wants to create, he receives a vision. He sees every detail within five minutes of what he is going to create. Larry says everyone has a gift in life. You have to look for your God given gift.

Larry has had the opportunity to bless others with his gift of art and enjoys sharing his art with the public. Larry believes what the Bible says, “It’s better to give than to receive.” Larry has lived his entire life being a living testament to this verse. Larry is a humanitarian, the first in line to volunteer and help the less fortunate.

Larry designed a new bucking dummy called the Stealth for the PBR. He holds three patents. Larry redesigned the whole dummy. He designed these for the safety of the Bulls. He also designed a Dummy Rider to use for Bucking Bulls so that owners could practice bucking at home and Riders would not get injured. Then he designed the Micro Stealth for the smaller yearling calves. These dummies were used exclusively for 4 years. Larry designed these riders with 2 sets of separate electronics, rounded corners.