Stanley York was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 29, 1931, and attended public school in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Beloit College in 1953.
York went on to receive a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School with a major in psychology, including statistics, testing and counseling. Upon completing his degree, he became a minister for the United Church of Christ. He served as pastor of U.C.C. churches in Berlin, Redgranite, and River Falls, Wisconsin.
In 1966, York, a Republican, was elected Assemblyman of Buffalo, Pepin, and Pierce counties replacing Milton Buchli. During his first term in office, he was Vice Chairman of the Assembly Elections Committee and a member of the Assembly Public Welfare Committee, as well as the Subcommittee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest of the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission Legislative Advisory Committee, and the Interim Advisor Committee on Garnishment.
York was reelected in 1968 and served as Chairman of the Assembly Elections Committee, Vice Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee and member of the Assembly Public Welfare Committee. He also served as member of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission Legislative Advisory Committee, and the Joint Committee to Study Disruptions at the University of Wisconsin, and served as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Republican Party until October 1973.
During his time in office, York introduced or co-sponsored legislation regarding a variety of topics such as highway safety programs; the attendance of handicapped children at out-of-state schools and classes; penalties for operating motor vehicles after revocation or suspension of privileges; use of school buildings during non-school hours by civic, religious, and charitable organizations; and limiting the import of Colby-type cheese.
On February 1, 1970, York resigned from his seat in the Assembly when then-Governor Warren Knowles appointed him Commissioner of the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations where he supervised the Equal Rights Division. After his tenure with the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations, York became Director of the Wisconsin Office of Emergency Energy Assistance until January 1975.
From 1975 to 1979, York was Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of Homes for the Aging, a statewide trade association of 100 nonprofit nursing homes and retirement centers. From 1979 to 1983, he was Commissioner of the Public Service Commission with a $3 million budget and 160 employees. In 1984, York worked as the Executive Director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.
In 1988, York was named Executive Assistant of the Department of Health and Social Services. In this position, he supervised the Division of Health, the Bureau of Quality Compliance, and Youth Services, as well as the Divisions of Corrections until it became a separate department.
During that same year, York received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with coursework focusing on public sector labor law, patient rights, and the role and limits of government programs.
In July 1991, York was made Interim Director of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. In December 1991, that position was made permanent. York served in that capacity until he retired on September 7, 1996.
York was active on numerous boards throughout the state. He was a member of the Board of Directors and Vice Chair of Deaconess Hospital and its successor, Good Samaritan Hospital, in Milwaukee from 1972-1985. He was also on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Dane County.
