Biography

Tom Hefner was born January 18, 1946 in Long Beach, California. One could say that Tom puts the "Tom" in tomfoolery. Besides being easy-going and a practical joker, he always had a love for the arts. He began drawing at a young age. His childhood art classes taught him various artistic styles and the use of different mediums, such as pen and ink; painting in oils and acrylics.

After high school graduation, Tom joined the Navy in 1963. When it was time to re-enlist, he decided not to and instead applied his mechanical skills by working at a phone company and later the Douglas aircraft company. During this time, he met his wife Leah, and started a family with the addition of his twin sons, Dan Hefner and David Lee Hefner.

Always the artist, and yearning for a more creative job, he then worked for a Southern California grocery store chain where he ran their advertising department. Tired of the big city life, he moved his family up to the Seattle, Washington area. Tom then worked for the Peninsula School District for thirty years. During that time, he became a well-known local artist who specialized in marine paintings and landscapes of the quaint, picturesque fishing village, Gig Harbor.

His involvement with the school district has left a legacy within the Gig Harbor community. First, and most notably, for the several large interior and exterior murals on the walls of Harbor Heights Elementary School and other various buildings that he painted. These "Edutainment" murals range from the planetary solar system to dinosaurs. And secondly, as he created and designed Harbor Heights Elementary School's mascot, the Orca Whale.

Since retiring, Tom keeps busy with his painting, working on his son's movies, and dabbling in some acting.
- IMDb mini biography by: David Lee Hefner