Early Years 1925 – 1943

James Lee Hansen was born in Tacoma, Washington, June 13, 1925 to Mary and Hildreth Hansen. Hildreth was employed by the Seattle, Portland and Spokane Railroad as an upholsterer. They lived in a small bungalow in south Tacoma where he attended grade school, was a part of the neighborhood group, and generally had a idlyllic childhood even during the depression after the great “crash” of 1929. His first memory of making sculpture was here, in Tacoma, using the native clay. During this time he also began drawing and creating scrap books out of what could be found. In 1936 the family moved to Vancouver, Washington, where his father was transferred to be the head upholsterer for Seattle, Portland, and Spokane RR. He entered the 6th grade in Vancouver, and soon began to draw cartoons depicting the current events for his grade school paper. Aside from art, much of his childhood was spent hunting, fishing, raising racing pigeons, and riding his horse in the surrounding countryside.

1937 – Assigned to teach visiting older Japanese student to speak and read English while attending Washington Elementary School.Drew current events news events cartoons for grade school paper.

1939 – Entered Vancouver High School with art major.

1941 – Bought horse from proceeds of Vancouver Columbian paper route.

1942 – Worked summer building war housing. During school months; worked swing shift as ship fitter apprentice at Vancouver shipyard.

1943 – Graduated High School, Enlisted in the Navy.