Born in Lincoln County, Kansas, Stanley was a sergeant in the United States Army during World War I, from 1918 to 1919 and a Fireman First Class in the United States Navy from 1921 to 1925.

He was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army during World War II from 1941 to 1945, returning to private practice in Kansas City, Kansas from 1945 to 1958.

[1] Stanley was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 25, 1958, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas vacated by Judge Arthur Johnson Mellott.

He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1971, and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1967 to 1970.

His service terminated on January 27, 2001, due to his death in Leavenworth, Kansas.