In the Spotlight | Tom Kieffer
In our mission to support Central Cass students in the arts, our “In the Spotlight” series aims to showcase alumni deserving recognition.
Tom Kieffer | Central Cass Class of 1998
Custom Aircraft Refinishing
Tom Kieffer, Central Cass 1998 graduate, found his passion for refinishing airplanes at the age of 16. He worked for his brother, Roy, 21 at the time, when he started Custom Aircraft Refinishing south of Casselton. With three light bulbs hanging in an empty airplane hangar, they quickly developed new and efficient ways to achieve the greatest possible results.
Fast forward a few years, Tom has played a role in many award-winning warbirds at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI—including Grumman widgeons, a Grumman Hellcat, P47 Thunderbolt and P51 mustangs. Their team has completed work on air-racing planes such as the Super Corsair “Race 74”, the Race P51 Thunderbird and a specially-built Beechcraft V-tail that flew around the world. They also helped Casselton’s own local aviator, Bob Miller, and his homebuilt Vans aircraft win at Oshkosh. The EAA is known for being the world’s largest aviation celebration, with over 3,000 show planes in 2023.
Custom Aircraft Refinishing has sold work at AirVenture, as well as many other aviation expos around the country. In 2012, they were granted the opportunity to travel to Jakarta, Indonesia to set up a training program for their own government refinishing program.
With help from family and friends, Tom also runs Harmony Hot Rods, a fabrication shop, specializing in anything from a 1950s slingshot dragster, 40s era vehicles, 70s vans and Jeeps of all kinds.
According to Kieffer, “Helping the customer with color choices and design assures a great final product. I always recommend starting with well-researched color combinations for stripes available from the large sports franchises as they are well received and won’t greatly affect resale value of the aircraft.”
Tom’s reflection on his high school years brings him to industrial and visual arts classes. “I always enjoyed all of Mr. Ott’s classes. He had a great sense of humor and extensive knowledge of many industrial arts. Mrs. Cruff was a great art teacher as well. I especially enjoyed ceramics with her. Getting the chance to help Mr. Dewalt teach woods class was a fun experience, too, as I was able to help classmates with wood lathe projects.”
Kieffer’s recommendation to students?
“Keep on keepin’ on! Learn new processes—especially if technology plays a roll in your success, but don’t disregard the past. Some old ways are better. If you do your best every time, then eventually your best will be pretty darn good.”
In regards to Tom’s field of refinishing, he explained, “Many trades of this type can only be learned by hands-on experience by apprenticing with a good company. College will only give you a license to learn, so to speak.” In the trade industry, Kieffer encourages finding time to pass on one’s skills, because “that’s how this all works.”
Tom currently lives on 10 acres near Casselton with Crystal Aakre and his two boys, Liam and Oliver. They operate a large, onsite pet-boarding and foster facility. A favorite hobby of the Kieffer and Aakre family is the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, Minnesota, where they help out every summer. Tom was a steam engineering instructor for many years, and now that the boys are old enough to start learning, they are getting back into it.
Thanks for sharing your story, Tom!
“In the Spotlight” features Central Cass alum who have excelled in the arts. Do you know a squirrel deserving recognition? Nominate them here!
