Stanley Forman Reed was born on December 31, 1884, in Minerva, Mason County, Kentucky. His father, John, was a successful physician, and from an early age, Reed was exposed to the importance of education and hard work.
Reed attended Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to study law at the University of Virginia and Columbia University but never completed his law degree, making him the last judge on the Supreme Court who did not have a formal legal education.
Despite not completing his law degree, Reed's knowledge and expertise in legal matters were recognized by many. He became a prominent authority on agricultural law before joining the Supreme Court. He was appointed by President Herbert Hoover to head the Federal Farm Bureau, where he made significant contributions to the field.
Reed served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1938 to 1957. During his tenure, he was part of the majority in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
In addition to his judicial work, Reed was also known for his association with Alger Hiss, an accused spy. He was subpoenaed to testify during Hiss's trial but objected to testifying while serving on the Supreme Court on ethical grounds.
Despite his busy career, Reed always made time for his family. He was a devoted husband and father, and his upbringing in Kentucky instilled in him a strong sense of family values.
Stanley Forman Reed's legacy lives on through his contributions to agricultural law and his work on the Supreme Court. He was a trailblazer in his field, breaking barriers and making a lasting impact on American jurisprudence.