Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Stevens received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1949 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1952.
He was a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve from 1952 to 1960.
[1] Stevens was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on July 9, 1981, to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by Judge William Robert Collinson.
He served as Chief Judge of the Western District only from 1992 to 1995.
Stevens served in that capacity until his death in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 18, 1998.