William Brown Stansbury papers

William Brown Stansbury was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1923. After graduation with honors from St. Xavier High School, he earned a degree in economics and a law degree from the University of Louisville. He worked for a number of local businesses, Peerless Manufacturing, Devoe and Reynolds, Falls City Lumber and Materialmen Association, before setting up his own law practice in 1950. Two years later, he joined the law firm of Mapother, Morgan and Stansbury. When he ran for mayor of Louisville, Stansbury was senior partner of Wood, Goldberg, Pedley and Stansbury.

A veteran of the Army Air Corps, Stansbury served as pilot of B-17s and B-29s during World War II. He flew fifteen combat runs out of England and was awarded the Air Medal with Cluster and was promoted to the rank of Captain.

A past president of the Louisville Bar Association, Stansbury was also a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and the American Bar Association, serving on a number of committees and executive positions. He also served two terms on the Louisville Board of Aldermen, and from December 1974-1975, served as president of the Board of Aldermen and Mayor Pro Tem. Among his chief accomplishments were supporting the development of TARC (bus transportation), EMS (Emergency Management Service) and the Neighborhood Development Office. He also served as Jefferson County Probate Commissioner and Probate Judge Pro Tem, and on the Louisville Planning and Zoning Committee and the Finance and Budget Committee. His many civic and community positions with the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Riverfront Commission, Louisville Sinking Fund and active participation in various Catholic charities led to him being awarded the 1972 Louisville "Distinguished Citizenship Award."

A life-long Democrat, Stansbury worked his way from precinct captain in 1950 to chairman for two terms of the Louisville and Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee (1968-1976). As such, he was active in Ned Breathitt's campaign for governor of Kentucky in 1963, Lyndon Johnson's presidential campaign of 1964, Hubert Humphrey's campaign of 1968, Wendell Ford's senatorial campaign of 1974, as well as forging the Carroll/Stovall/Democrats United campaign of 1975. He served as mayor of the city of Louisville from December 1978 to 1982. Stansbury died after being struck by an automobile in April 1985.