It has the meaning von 'grown up and experienced' - certainly there's a word...

Our society is learning to encourage and use the enormous talents of mature and experienced people. Their contribution is needed now more than ever.

I know in Bavarian, a "g'stand'ns Mannsbild" is basically a hunk of a man, a buff fellow. But in this context, my hunch would be more along the line of "solid citizens."

What is a solid citizen? I've never heard of that.

then by all means, read up on it:

http://www.syracuse.com/politics/poststandard...

A Solid Citizen'
CENTRAL NEW YORKERS REMEMBER GERALD FORD
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Staff reports
Those who knew or met Gerald Ford, the former president who died Tuesday at age 93, remembered him for his role in leading the nation through the painful endings of the Watergate and Vietnam eras. They also gave him credit for restoring integrity to the White House.

@...: soaimrait...

Solid Citizens are the people who said nothing against the war in Vietnam and now say nothing about the war in Iraq

solid citizens = solide, zuverlässige, gediegene Bürger

@dude
so do you have to be a former president to be one of the "gestandene Leute"?
In that case it would be wrong of my friend to claim that his parents are "gestandene Leute".

I think w might be a bit tainted here; a relic of the '60s perhaps?

Solid citizen is not only negatively tinged

well then, Ketyu, why don't you be a nice chap and give us all a bit more context....? Since nobody knows just what the heck you're talking about.

steadfast as in "Baptist"?

? Depends... Which 'Baptist do you mean?

A German friend at the university would like me to meet his parents. I feel uncomfortable about it, but said okay. In America it almost equals a proposal, and we are nowhere near that. He says I don't need to worry, because his parents are "gestandene Leute". So I want to know how to prepare myself mentally for this visit. That's all.

By Baptist I mean very strict churchgoers.

Okay, it's life-experienced - maybe not modern in their views but aware how 'modern relationships' function, perhaps don't always like it but accept things the way they are...

I would translate "gestanden" as accomplished.
It means the person has achieved something in his (or her) life, usually owns his own house (or even business), is successful in his (or her)occupation or profession (more than just a job), and also has gained some social recognition. Perhaps they have also raised successful children.
It also means that he has perhaps mastered some of life's difficulties, at least your visit will not throw him off kilter.
My dictionary also even adds "sophisticated" as the third meaning to "accomplished".
Generally, from my knowledge of German society, "gestandene Leute" are rarely under 40.

What about "sophisticated." Those are people that have seen something of the world, done something with their lives and generally - as we say - been around the block a few times.
Does that work for "gestanden?"

Die Beschreibung von trehala finde ich sehr gut, daher auch accomplished noch besser als sophisticated - wobei 'gestanden' im Deutschen auch eine Prise 'bodenständig - down-to-earth-' beinhaltet.

He was an established and well respected businessman within the community.

@Ketyu.......just relax.....when he used this word he surely didn't have anything like what you explained in # 14 (proposal) on his mind. "Gestandene Leute" is a very positive term for all those qualities which all the other members here explained.

The thing which comes to my mind would be "they are the salt of the earth" - which is similar to what Bubi (#19) expressed and which I learned from a native speaker

@ketyu:
Das Bild, das ich von "gestandenen Leuten" habe, enthält, dass dieses Menschen sind, die den Stürmen des Lebens schon standgehalten haben und dabei etwas erreicht haben. Man kann sich auf sie verlassen und sie verfügen über ein Urteilsvermögen, das auf Erfahrung beruht.

Mit "sophisticated" und "solid citizen" hat das IMHO kaum etwas zu tun, und "steadfast" kenne ich nicht genug, um darüber eine Meinung zu haben.

What I like is "mature", "experienced", "trustworthy", "not easy to impress by superficial observations", and yes "accomplished."

Trust your friend. If he calls his parents "gestandene Leute" he seems to have a great deal of respect for them, which is a good sign anyway. (Sorry for changing languages.)