Member Spotlight

Vincent  Stanley

Try putting a label on CAGW President’s Club member Vincent J. Stanley and a few words come to mind, including:  philanthropist; family man; community leader; entrepreneur; but above all, conservative activist for fiscal responsibility.  In fact, Vincent has spent a good portion of his life standing not just behind us, but by our side, in the “war on waste.”

Of Polish decent, Vincent was born in 1916 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town where his father did yeoman’s work in the mines to support his family.  His mother and father lacked high school degrees; however, they blessed Vincent with a strong sense of integrity, ethics and a set of values that he shares with the world today.  After graduating from high school at 18, Vincent toiled in the coal mines for nearly two years himself.  Grateful for this life experience, he feels it instilled a sense of value for the dollar and understanding of how the blood, sweat and tears of hard work fuel America’s industrial might.

In 1951, Vincent founded V.J. Stanley, Inc., a wholesale supplier of hot water controls, circulators and heaters.  Committed to putting service before profit, to this day he maintains a staff of four sales professionals for every three service providers, a ratio unheard of in the industry.  Vincent only wishes that the federal government would follow his lead by taking care of its customers, America’s taxpayers, as well as V.J. Stanley, Inc. caters to its clients. 

When asked his greatest concern for the nation, Vincent responds pointblank, “The size of the federal deficit drives me nuts.”  Indeed, he is gravely concerned that the massive $8 trillion national debt will impede America’s ability to deliver promised Social Security and Medicare benefits to retirees who have paid for them through their payroll taxes.  His solution:  a tax revolt from the grassroots up to pressure the government into an austerity program.  Specifically, he suggests reducing spending below the rate of inflation while simultaneously easing the tax burden, and applying the revenue saved toward paying down the national debt.  When the national debt has been eliminated, spending could slowly rise to the rate of inflation to avoid overspending. 

Needless to say, Vincent is a strong believer in CAGW’s mission.  In fact, his longtime, enthusiastic support of CAGW has led him to solicit his friends and business associates to back CAGW’s efforts.  A CAGW Crusader, he has distributed CAGW President’s Club membership materials to his confidants throughout New York.  Vincent hopes more business leaders will join him as a Crusader, expanding the ranks of CAGW’s President’s Club from coast to coast.

If you looked up “philanthropist” in Webster’s dictionary, you may very well find a picture of Vincent J. Stanley.  Not only one of CAGW’s most generous President’s Club members, Vincent supports an extensive list of charities, including:  Wilson Commencement Park, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the YMCA, and Catholic and public schools alike.  Vincent has been involved with seven inner city schools in New York for about 12 years.  In fact, the V.J. Stanley Children’s Literacy Fund, which promotes literacy as a means to lift family incomes and thus prevent crime, has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in books, computer hardware and software, as well as National Geographic and Kid Discover subscriptions, to schools.  Vincent has held book reading contests at multiple schools and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  In addition, he has recently given extensively to Hurricane Katrina and Pakistan earthquake relief efforts.

Active in civic and political circles, Vincent or his company log over 60 memberships, including:  the Rochester Rotary, the National Federation of Independent Business, and a small business organization he founded which was taken over by the Chamber of Commerce and substantially expanded.  His awards are too numerous to mention; however, they include the McQuaid Jesuit Round Table member from McQuaid Jesuit High School, the Chuck Cuminale Youth Advocate Award from The Center For Youth, the V. J. Stanley Library at School #41, the Friends of the Library Award from the Rochester City School District, the Community Leadership Award for Positive Youth Development from the Youth Services Quality Council, the Jack Palvino Award from WHAM TV Channel 10, and the Small Business Administration Award in Buffalo, New York.

A renaissance man, Vincent was president of the Rochester Ball Club from 1974-1976, a minor league baseball team then affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles.  In charge of the administrative aspects of club activities, he helped oversee the team’s stadium construction.

Vincent’s life philosophy drove him to save, build and reinvest profits back into his business.  It has also directed him to give back generously to others.  Vincent has been married 60 years to his beloved wife Evelyn and has three boys, one of whom now serves as president of the family business, while Vincent remains chairman of the board.

Having joined CAGW in 1989, Vincent has done great work on our behalf.  CAGW would not have been as successful without his financial support and inspirational leadership.  CAGW is grateful to Vincent and the many other President’s Club members who are working with us to restore fiscal restraint and accountability to America.