Tom Moro was born and raised in the Walla Walla valley, just a couple of miles from the Whitman Mission and the existing Fort Walla Walla on the Lewis and Clark Trail. He took up taxidermy at age 12 to pay his way through school and at age 14 began painting just to have something to do in his spare time. Tom graduated from high school in 1954 and gave up his trapping and taxidermy; it was at this time he met Francis Christiano and got bit by the black powder bug.

In about 1968 and 1969 Tom built three Flintlocks and tried his hand at engraving. When Robert Valade (a very fine custom engraver) saw Tom