Sefton, Thomas W., 1917-1906

Biography / Administrative History

Thomas W. Sefton (1917-2006) was president of a major San Diego, California, bank (San Diego Trust) and a leading San Diego philanthropist, who had a life-long devotion to Laurel and Hardy. This interest in Laurel and Hardy led to a friendship with Stan Laurel before the latter's death in 1965. Sefton developed a correlative relationship with Hal Roach, the great producer of the 1920s and 1930s of, among other movie properties, the Laurel and Hardy films. His friendship with Stan Laurel meant that Thomas W. Sefton was able to accumulate from Laurel himself invaluable materials related to the career of the comedian, and, to a lesser extent, that of Oliver Hardy.