Bill Stanhope was born in Amarillo, Texas and attended junior high school in Reece, Kansas. He graduated from Wichita East High School in 1943. While attending East High School, Bill participated on the intramural wrestling team.

After graduating from high school Bill attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. While attending Duke, Bill participated on the varsity wrestling team for one year. Bill later transferred to Friends University in Wichita to complete his education.

In 1965 Bill began his association with the Kansas Kid Wrestling program. Bill was the founder and coach / manager of the Colwich Wrestling Club from 1965 through 1978.  The Colwich Wrestling Club was one of the forerunner clubs of Kids Wrestling in Kansas. Bill was an organizer of, and first presided over, the Mid-Kansas Wrestling Association which has grown to be the largest and most successful kids association in the state.

Bill donated his energy, enthusiasm, and love of kids and wrestling to help develop Kansas wrestling to the level it is on today. Mr. Stanhope has made speeches to high school coaches, veteran organizations, and civic clubs all for the promotion and sponsorship of kids wrestling.

Bill also was a Kansas high school wrestling official from 1967 through 1975.