1879: Born in Cincinnati
1901: Graduated from Yale University with Bachelor of Arts and returned to his hometown of Cincinnati: He first worked in a bank and then as a salesman of machine tools but felt inadequate with his lack of technical training in machinery.
1904: Joined Procter & Collier, the house advertising agency in Cincinnati for Procter & Gamble, as a salesman: He met Helen Lansdowne, who later became Mrs. Resor, during Helen's short stay at Procter & Collier as a bill auditor. Meanwhile, Stanley Resor acquired a reputation for his relentless drive and persistence with work. He also proved himself as an imaginative planner of advertising campaigns. Resor developed the brand name BRENLIN for a window-shade manufacturer and created a campaign for Higgin All Metal Screen Company(Fox 1984, p.80-81).
1907: Coined the brand name for Brenlin shades and took the unusual step of targeting metal screens to the middle class, encouraging them to imitate the habits of wealthier people(Keding 1994, p.263).
As Resor did not write any actual copy, he asked Helen Lansdowne to go back to work at Procter & Collier as a copywriter. She took the job although her family warned her not to take the offer, saying, "he will work you to death"(Keding 1994, p263).
1908: Became the head of the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency's new branch in Cincinnati: As Resor declined the offer by Mr. J. Walter Thompson, to manage its Chicago branch, J. Walter Thompson instead asked him and his brother Walter to open a branch of JWT in Cincinnati(Fox 1984, p.81). Helen Lansdowne went along with Resor as the only copywriter in the new branch.
1911: Hired James Webb Young to replace Helen as a copywriter: Helen was promoted to work for JWT's New York branch. Young later became Resor's successor as the head of the Cincinnati office(Fox 1984, p.82).
Became the president of the J. Walter Thompson: Resor bought the J. Walter Thompson agency for a half million dollars as the old J. Walter Thompson decided to retire(Fox 1984, p.82). Resor moved to the JWT headquarters in New York.
March 1917: Married Helen Lansdowne in New York(Fox 1984, p82).
Found the American Association of Advertising Agencies as one of the co-founders(Kreshel Fall1990, p.81).
1920s: JWT became the first place in total agency billings and stayed there for the next five decades. Stanley Resor was in control of the administration and client services while his wife concentrated on the preparation of ads(Keding 1994, p.264).
During the years in JWT, Resor had established "University of Advertising" within the agency which gave the business new standards of precision and rationality. He was also the first one to adapt the idea of scientific research to advertising(Fox 1984, p.84). In addition, he implemented an updated version of an old technique, the testimonial which proved to be the most successful devices used in JWT during 1920s(Fox 1984, p.88).
Resor hired John B. Watson, the leader of behaviorist psychology, in order to help Resor to implement his philosophy into advertising practice(Kreshel 1990, p.49).
1923-1924: The president of the American Association of Advertising Agencies(Kreshel Fall1990, p.87). He helped establish a research department for the organization.
1927: Began JWTs overseas operations with an office in London(Keding 1994, p.270). JWT was the first American advertising agency to go international.
1939: Set up the first consumer panel in America's advertising industry(Advertising Age 1955, p.48).
1949: Named the Advertising Man of the Year of 1948(Advertising Age 1955, p.8).
1955: Became the chairman of the board of J. Walter Thompson. Norman Strouse replaced Resor as the president of JWT(Advertising Age 1955, p.1).
1961: Retired from J. Walter Thompson(Keding 1994, p.270).
October 29, 1963: Stanley Resor died(Keding 1994, p.270).