Senator Claude Stanley View All Years

CLAUDE M. STANLEY

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Claude M. Stanley, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Claude Maxwell Stanley was born in Warren County, Iowa, on March 5, 1872. He died in Muscatine, Iowa, on June 29, 1965, at the age of 93.

He was the second son of Levi M. and Rebecca Maxwell Stanley, who moved to farm in Adams County while he was quite young, and there he spent his boyhood.

He graduated from Corning Academy in 1893, after which he served as a school teacher and superintendent of schools at Carlisle, Iowa. He later entered Drake University, where he received the Bachelor of Laws degree in 1900.

He and his brother Carl formed the law firm of Stanley and Stanley in Corning. Except for the times he was in active military service, he practiced law in Corning until 1937.

During the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in Company K of the Third Regimen Iowa National Guard. After the war he continued in the National Guard as Commander of Company K. In 1912 he was promoted to Major. He commanded a battalion of the Third Infantry when it served on the Mexican border in 1916-17. During World War I he served overseas with the same regiment, then known as the 168th Infantry of the famed Rainbow Division. He served as Battalion Commander and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry and leadership in the Argonne offensive. He returned to civilian life in 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Continuing in the Officers Reserve Corps until 1936, he served as Colonel of the 350th Infantry. His moral integrity, military astuteness, and kind consideration for those who served under his command won the repect and admiration of all who knew him.

Always interested in politics and government, he was for many years Adams County Chairman of the Republican Party. He served his community as City Attorney for two years, and as County Attorney for four years. He was President of the Board of Education of Corning from 1926 to 1933, and during this period the present high school was constructed.

A merit scholarship in his honor is awarded annually to a graduate of Corning high school.

In 1932 he was elected State Senator from the Sixth District (Adams and Taylor Counties). From 1933 through 1937, he served in two regular sessions and two special sessions of the General Assembly. He was an active participant in Senate debate and committee work, and made many contributions to major legislation.

In 1937 he accepted an appointment as a member of the original Iowa Employment Security Commission. He served continuously on this commission for 22 years, until his retirement in 1959 at the age of 87. He served as Chairman much of this time. He became an authority on the employment security system, was often called on for legislative advice, and made many contributions to Iowa and national policy in this field. His rulings on controversial issues were consistently upheld by the Iowa Supreme Court.

His interest in better government continued until his death. Long after his retirement he continued to study the bills and journals of the Iowa General Assembly and to express his opinions on legislative issues. His wide knowledge and careful analysis of proposed laws were extremely helpful to his grandson, State Senator David M. Stanley.

Throughout his life he was a member of the Methodist Church, and served for many years as a Trustee and member of the Official Board. His religious faith was important to him and faithfully practiced by him.

He was a Thirty-third Degree Mason and was very active in Masonic Orders, especially the Des Moines Consistory of the Scottish Rite. He was an active member of the Rainbow Division Veterans, Kiwanis, Iowa State Bar Association, and American Legion; he received the first life membership awarded by the Corning American Legion Post. He served as President of the Iowa Title Association.

In 1902 he married Laura Stephenson of Corning. They celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary in May, 1962, and she passed away in December of that year. Their two sons, C. Maxwell and Arthur E. Stanley, grew up in Corning and are now residents of Muscatine, Iowa, and Lake San Marcos, California, respectively. He was survived by four grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren, and maintained a warm and close relationship with them until his death.

The Des Moines Register, in an editorial on July 1, 1965, commented:

“Among the assets of the State of Iowa are some men who find their greatest satisfaction in public service and give their life to it. One of these men was Claude M. Stanley…

“He was a man of great vigor and animation, with a stern sense of integrity and firm convictions.…

“Claude Stanley’s life was a long one and most of it was spent in service to his community, his state and his nation.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE SIXTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Claude M. Stanley the State of Iowa has lost a valued and honored citizen, and by this resolution attests its respect for and admiration of him and tenders its sincere sympathy to his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send an enrolled copy to his two sons, C. Maxwell Stanley and Arthur E. Stanley.

DAVID M. STANLEY, Chairman

ROBERT BURNS,

RICHARD STEPHENS,

Committee.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.