Stanley Gault
Stanley Carleton Gault (January 6, 1926 – June 29, 2016) was an American businessman.
Stanley Gault | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stanley Carleton Gault January 6, 1926 Wooster, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | June 29, 2016 (aged 90) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | The College of Wooster |
| Occupation | CEO and Chairman of Goodyear and Rubbermaid |
| Spouse(s) | Flo Kurtz
(m. 1950; died 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
He was born on January 6, 1926 in Wooster, Ohio to Clyde and Asenath Gault.[1] He graduated from the College of Wooster in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in geology, and remained as Chairman Emeritus of the Board.[1][2] While studying at the College of Wooster, he served in the Army Air Corps as a B-29 gunner during World War II.[1]
Career
Gault spent 31 years with General Electric in various positions, including being head of G.E.'s consumer products division and later its industrial products division.[1][2] In 1979, he was named Chairman of the Board and CEO of Rubbermaid.[2][3] After taking over at Rubbermaid, Gault removed all but two managers at the company and reorganized it.[1] He led the company through a series of divestitures and strategic investments that increased the company's profitability.[4] While he stripped weak product lines and slashed excess cost, he invested in new product development.[4][5] Later Rubbermaid CEOs, including Wolfgang Schmitt, were seen as less than adequate compared to Gault and the company's profits dropped.[5] Rubbermaid ended up being bought in 1999 by a competitor, Newell.[5]
Starting in 1985, Gault was appointed as a director at Avon Products, Inc.[6] He became CEO and Chairman of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company after retiring from Rubbermaid in 1991.[2]
In 1994, he was inducted into Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame.[7] In 1995, Gault received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[8]
In 2001, Gault stepped down as director at Avon.[3]
Gault died on June 29, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio, after a brief illness.[9] Gault often donated to the city of Wooster and his alma mater.[1]
References
- Goldstein, Matthew (2016-07-06). "Stanley Gault, Who Led Rubbermaid and Goodyear, Dies at 90 (Published 2016)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- "End of era: Gault passes away at 90". The Daily Record. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016.
- "Avon Chief Adds Post". New York Times. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- "Man who is Stan Gault: Things you know, and some you didn't". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- Deutsch, Claudia H. (1998-10-22). "Newell Buying Rubbermaid in $5.8 Billion Deal (Published 1998)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- Gilpin, Kenneth N.; Purdum, Todd S. (1985-04-16). "BUSINESS PEOPLE ;Lenox Head Named President of Avon (Published 1985)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- Nulty, Peter (4 April 1994). "THE NATIONAL BUSINESS HALL OF FAME - April 4, 1994". CNN Money. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". Academy of Achievement. American Academy of Achievement.
- "The College of Wooster Mourns the Loss of Stanley C. Gault | The College of Wooster". Wooster College. Retrieved 2016-06-30.