- Named a "Disney Legend"; besides his film work, he did a lot of architectural design for the theme parks and hotels. (1990)
- Given lifetime achievement award by the Themed Entertainment Association (THEA) [September 1998]
- Was the official portrait painter of Mickey Mouse.
- In 1946, surrealist Salvador Dali agreed to collaborate with Disney on a cartoon. Disney assigned Hench to the project. Since Dali spoke no English at the time, he and Hench conversed in French. The unfinished six-minute cartoon was shelved until the 1990s, when the Disney studios decided to finish the project. Hench helped complete the cartoon, "Destino". It premiered at the 2003 New York Film Festival.
- At Disney, he started out as a sketch artist on "Fantasia", later moving on to story editing, layout, and special effects for "Peter Pan" and "Cinderella".
- He grew up in southern California, and studied at the California School of Fine Arts.
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