Ron Schaefer has been studying the fine art of moving and adjusting skin since 1975, full time since 1982, starting out as a full spectrum taxidermy service. Heads Above The Rest, Inc.® slowly transformed and specializes mainly in life-size African and Exotics with his passion being cats. Ron’s experience, craftsmanship, professionalism and inherited artistic gift shows through in every commissioned piece that is completed.

Ron’s father Heinz, born and raised in Germany is a highly respected tool-and-die engineer and designer. At the age of 12, Ron was working in his father’s tool-and-die business. Age 14 he worked full time after school, weekends and summer vacation. Age 18 he earned his tool-and-die degree. Working with such discipline and work ethics and extremely high working tolerances truly reflects in his art work.

Cats are some of the most sought after species and yet the hardest mammal to mount with a true ”cat look“, soft and natural exactly like nature has created. Ron has a gift to bring any cat back to life (or as close as you can) and it reflects on the amount of cats he completes. Cat collectors from all over send Ron their cats even if he doesn’t complete the rest of their safari shipment just for the purposes of wanting their trophy done correctly the first time, without lasting regrets. The secret is in having a true inherited artistic talent and decades of studying animal behavior and anatomy, having efficient work techniques and work application. In Ron’s eyes these qualifications are a must, but Ron also contributes his passion to wanting to learn and study cats.

One of Ron’s hobbies is going to zoos and he has quite a few favorite ones he frequents for certain species. In a zoo you have all the time you need to study all species of cats up close. Many times he will sit in front of a cage all day watching and studying and taking notes or sketching.

Ron reflects on one particular visit. ”Traveling through Arizona I came upon a wild cat sanctuary meaning they only raise and deal with cats. Walking through the sanctuary I was trying to get the attention of a tiger pacing back and forth in his cage. No matter what I did or said the tiger was not interested. I waited until there were no visitors around and I squatted down went under the visitor ropes leaned in and just touched the chain link fence. The tiger was walking away from me almost at the end of his cage and the instant he heard the rattle of the fence he whipped his head around and lunged at me without hesitation. I was about fifteen to eighteen feet away and the six hundred pound tiger covered that distance in one leap.

All I had time to do was shift my weight from my left foot to my right foot before the massive Bengal tiger hit the chain link fence, bowing the fence coming within twelve inches from my body and let out the loudest bone chilling roar I have ever witnessed. I never took my eyes off the cat and never forgot that frightening image. I also NEVER did that again!“

Ron’s artistic value and his commitment to animal study is testimony to his success ”Heads Above The Rest, Inc.®" is not a large production firm. He strives for low volume and personal customer care. Ron has worked for many years in larger firms that do a large volume turn out. High volume only means one thing… ”Production line, pick-a-number taxidermy“. Production lines eventually turn into overlooks, mistakes, loss of personal attention, loss of craftsmanship, lost in a sea of paperwork and phone calls that normally don’t get returned. This type of production is not what Ron wants to give his clients.