Stony was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, the birthplace of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Unknowingly preparing for life in the Army, Stony moved several times as a child ultimately landing in Rochester, NY where he graduated in 1965 from East High School where his counselor, COL (R) Julius Stanton, USMA 1935, encouraged him to apply to USMA. While attending Bucknell University for a year, he learned how to jump out perfectly good airplanes as a skydiver, guided by a fellow student who had been in the 82nd Airborne Division. Stony was offered entry to US Air Force Academy for about one month, before receiving a letter from the Secretary of the Air Force that the acceptance was rescinded because he did not have 20-20 vision. He felt this was somewhat strange because he had worn his glasses throughout the entire testing process. He was later nominated by Congressman Frank Horton and accepted into the USMA Class of 1971.
While working at Arnie’s Mobil Station for about a year, Stony frequently went across the street to Donuts Delite for coffee and donuts, where he met Dolores Schum. They dated throughout Stony’s years at USMA. He graduated on 9 June and they were married on the morning on 10 June 1971 (best decision of his lifetime) at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel at West Point.
Stony opted for the Military Police Corps. He was the Distinguished Graduate of the MP Officer Orientation course, completed the armor officer basic course, assignment as an armored cavalry platoon leader with the First Infantry Division, MP Platoon Leader in RVN, and XO of the Division MP Company at the 9th Infantry Division, where he also achieved certification as a Washington State firefighter and EMT. He completed Paramedic training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Alabama licensure while completing the MP Officer Advanced course. He was selected for the graduate Fellowship program in Forensic Medicine at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology on the Walter Reed compound, and to attend George Washington University where he completed a master’s degree in forensic science. He was dual-branched as an Engineer officer and after assignments as Military Police Operations Officer and Commander of the 56th MP Company, served as the Senior Advisor of the 813th Engineer Battalion. He was then selected to serve as the staff Engineer officer for the Corps of Cadets at USMA (June 1981-June 1984). After completing CGSC, he served four years as the Provost Marshal of the National Training Center and three years in the Force Modernization division of J-3, U.S. Forces Command before retiring in 1992.
During his second career as a firefighter/Paramedic, Stony received training and education from numerous institutions including the National Fire Academy, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Maryland, The Georgia Institute of Technology, Clayton College and State University, and the National Mass Fatalities Institute. He achieved the highest level of certifications in the National Professional Qualification System for: Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Educator and Hazardous Material Technician and Incident Commander. He was also a high angle rescue technician, trench rescue technician, and confined space rescue technician. He retired again in 2007 after serving seven years as the Fire Chief of Peachtree City, Georgia.
Stony is a charter member of Post 9949, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and a Gold Life Legacy member of VFW. He is serving his eleventh year as Post Commander and is an All-American Commander. He is also the Post Service Officer. He is a DOD certified Honor Guard member and has provided Military Honors for numerous deceased military Veterans. He is a Life Member of the American Legion, Past Master of the Masonic Lodge in Peachtree City, and past President and member of the Board of Directors of the Peachtree City Optimist Club. He is a member of the Service Committee, the Altar Guild, the Property Team and an Usher at Word of God Lutheran Church. In his spare time, he likes to dabble in genealogy and spend time with his ten grandchildren.