Stanley Mercile was born in Swanton, Vermont in 1907, and later settled in North Troy, Vermont, where he worked in the plywood mills from 1944 until its closing in 1971. Stanley started drawing in the winter of 1979 as a way to pass time. He said he began because he had nothing else to do. "I saw these pencils in the store so I bought them and started drawing. I couldn't go hunting no more so I just started inventing." Stanley passed away in the mid 80's.