John Hench facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Hench
Hench (left) with Walt Disney
Born	June 29, 1908 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
Died	February 5, 2004 (aged 95) Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation	Artist, designer, director
Years active	1939–2004
Employer	Walt Disney Imagineering
Spouse(s)	Lowry Hench (1939–2004) (his death)

John Hench (born June 29, 1908 – died February 5, 2004) was a talented American artist, designer, and director who worked for The Walt Disney Company. For 65 years, he helped create many famous Disney attractions and theme parks.

Early Life and Art School

John Hench was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 29, 1908. He grew up in Southern California. He loved art and studied at several art schools. These included the Los Angeles Art Students' League, the Otis College of Art and Design, the San Francisco Art Institute, and the Chouinard Art Institute.

A Career at Disney

John Hench started working at Disney in 1939. He began as a story artist in the animation department. He helped create backgrounds, layouts, and special effects for many animated films.

Working with Walt Disney

Walt Disney greatly respected John Hench. He thought Hench was one of the most talented artists at the studio. Hench even worked with Walt Disney and the famous artist Salvador Dalí on an animated short film called Destino. This project started in 1945 but was not finished until 2003.

Creating Movie Magic

Later, John Hench moved to WED Enterprises. This company designs and builds Disney theme parks and attractions. In 1954, Hench worked on the live-action movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He was the main designer for the giant squid in the film. This movie won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

Hench was also the official artist for Mickey Mouse. He painted special portraits of Mickey for his 25th, 50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th birthdays!

Designing Disney Parks

John Hench led the design for many well-known Disney attractions. He helped create Tomorrowland and the buildings and walkways in Adventureland. He also designed New Orleans Square and the Snow White Grotto.

He was also the main designer for Space Mountain and Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. He also worked on Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland. Hench also helped with other popular attractions like the Mickey Mouse Revue, Carousel of Progress, and It's a Small World. Because he looked a bit like Walt Disney, park guests often asked him for autographs or photos!

The Olympic Torch

One of John Hench's most famous designs outside of Disney was the Olympic Torch for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Many Olympic torches since then have been based on his design.

In 1990, John Hench received the Disney Legend award. This is the highest honor given by the Disney company. He continued to work at Walt Disney Imagineering until 2004.

Family Life

John Hench was married to his wife, Lowry Hench. They were together from 1939 until his death in 2004.

Later Years and Legacy

John Hench passed away on February 5, 2004, at the age of 95. He died from heart failure in Burbank, California. Today, his name tag and a special award for his 65 years of service are displayed in the lobby of the Imagineering building. Other Imagineers have also created tributes to him.

Honoring John Hench

The John Hench School of Animation at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts is named after him. He was a big supporter of the animation school. The school's motto, "Art Makes Us Human", is a quote from John Hench himself. He said this to inspire students when he visited the school.

Famous Works

Here are some of the well-known projects John Hench worked on:

• Fantasia (1940) - Artist
• Dumbo (1941) - Artist
• The Three Caballeros (1945) - Artist
• Make Mine Music (1946) - Art Supervisor
• Cinderella (1950) - Art Supervisor
• Alice in Wonderland (1951) - Art Supervisor
• Peter Pan (1953) - Art Supervisor
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) - Special Effects
• Destino (2003) - Story

Theme Park Designs

John Hench also helped design these famous Disney parks and attractions:

Awards and Honors

• Themed Entertainment Association Lifetime Achievement Award (1998)
• Disney Legend (Animation & Imagineering) (1990)
• Academy Award for Special Effects, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)