Stanford Baker Whatley was born in Longpine, LA and graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria, LA. He attended Louisiana College.

Whatley joined the Army National Guard at 19 and was appointed the rank of Corporal in the 156th Infantry (Rifle) unit in November of 1940, when he entered active service. He did his basic training at Ft. Benning, GA and further training in Daytona Beach, FL before being deployed to England. After serving in the 156th Infantry Regiment, he served in North Africa in the 202nd Infantry during World War II. He was then transferred into the 73rd Military Police unit and served in Algeria, Italy and Marseilles, France as a motorcycle patrolman. He separated from the U.S. Army at Camp Shelby, MS on 14 Oct 1945 after nearly 5 years of service.

After the war, he married Mona Aimee Cummings and worked for his father's meat packing company in Alexandria and Lake Charles, LA. He later started a gourmet food company and invested in commercial real estate.

Whatley had four sons: Stanford, Jr., David, Gibson and Harlan. Stanford B. Whatley was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of the El Karubah Shrine and the First Presbyterian Church in Shreveport, LA.