Date of Birth: July 17, 1894
Place of Birth: Budapest, Hungary
Date of Death: February 16, 1971
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Louis Paul Jonas, sculpted a stegosaurus for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City, which greets visitors to the Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah – Colorado border today. He was the first sculptor to do full size dinosaur models. Born in Budapest, Hungary, on July 17, 1894, he immigrated to the United States to join his brothers, Coloman and Guy, while another brother, John, stayed with taxidermy in Hungary. At the age of 12, Louis Paul began work in Denver based taxidermy business and his brothers were amazed at his exceptional talent for sculpting. At some point he went to work with the Father of Modern Taxidermy, Carl E. Akeley, and helped create the African elephant group at the American Museum of Natural History.
Eventually, Louis Paul and brother, Leslie, would open a taxidermy studio in New York State, while Coloman stayed in Denver, and Guy opened a branch of Jonas Brothers taxidermy in Seattle (later to become Klineburgers). All of their business’ were very successful. Louis Paul Jonas died on February 16, 1971.