As a result of his contributions to the production of equipment for the armed forces during World War II, he was recognized as one of the leaders of wartime Michigan.

[1] He sold Garland Manufacturing in 1947 and turned to a career of rescuing financially distressed companies, often as a court-appointed bankruptcy receiver.

When World War II broke out, Garland Manufacturing turned to the production of parts for trucks, tanks, and planes for the navy and the army.

[6] The Marina was distinguished by the railroad system designed and constructed by Garland for transporting deep-keeled boats from the water to the storage areas and back.

Jacobs Company had manufacturing plants in Michigan and a lavish New York office that Judge Thornton characterized as "a cesspool of violations".

[13][14] While operating Grand Rapids Metalcraft and Continental Die Casting profitably, Garland and Pfleiderer were able to retire the past obligations of the F.L.

[17] The court, in its final ruling, heaped praise on Harry G. Garland and Arthur B. Pfleiderer noting that Grand Rapids Metalcraft Corp. and Continental Die Casting Corp. had been restored to "leaders in their fields".

[19] Garland continued in this position until 1971 when he resigned the chairmanship in order to, as the Wall Street Journal reported, "turn the reins over to a younger man.

[21] At this company Garland completed the design, construction, and installation of a sophisticated conveyor system that transported huge crowds of visitors through General Motors' Futurama exhibit at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

[22] Garland's conveyor system carried 1400 seated visitors simultaneously through the Futurama diorama on a 15-minute ride through scenes of the Antarctic, the moon, the ocean floor, the jungle, mountains, desert, and the urban community of the future.

[26] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, over and above his other corporate responsibilities, Harry Garland served as the representative in the Detroit area for Lake Shore, Inc., a manufacturing company in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

He was an accomplished pilot and yachtsman, active in the Civil Air Patrol, and served on the advisory board of Aviation and Yachting magazine.

He built his home at Gaukler Point on the shore of Lake St. Clair and constructed a seaplane ramp from which he operated his Piper PA-18 "Super Cub" floatplane.