Claude Maxwell Stanley (1904–1984) was an American civil engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, peace activist, author and world citizen.
In 1943 he co-founded HON Industries, originally named Home-O-Nize, an office furniture manufacturing company; and, along with his wife Elizabeth, created and endowed the Stanley Foundation (now the Stanley Center for Peace and Security)[1] in 1956, which is a global policy organization which focuses on mitigating climate change, avoiding the use of nuclear weapons, and preventing mass violence and atrocities.
He was one of the College of Engineering's most outstanding graduates and extensively supported The University of Iowa, including the donation of over $2 million and a major art collection to the UI Foundation after his death in 1984.
[4] Mr. Stanley died from a heart attack while on a business trip to New York City.
[5] In 2003, the Hydraulics Laboratory of the University of Iowa was renamed in honor of 1926 engineering graduate C. Maxwell Stanley.