Richard "Dick" Hastings[1] Thomas (3 January 1915 - 31 December 1996) was an animation background artist. He was trained at Cornish Art School in Seattle, Washington, and Otis Art School in Los Angeles. With Warner Brothers from 1937, successively assigned to Bob Clampett, Norm McCabe, Frank Tashlin, and Robert McKimson. He served during World War II in the United States Merchant Marines. He later worked for nine years at Hanna-Barbera Studios, and for another ten years at Depatie-Freleng Studio (particularly the "Pink Panther" cartoons).