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Stanley Gault

Stanley Gault
Born
Stanley Carleton Gault

January 6, 1926
Wooster, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 29, 2016(2016-06-29) (aged 90)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materThe College of Wooster
Occupation(s)CEO and Chairman of Goodyear and Rubbermaid
Spouse
Flo Kurtz
​
​
(m. 1950; died 2013)​
Children3

Stanley Carleton Gault (January 6, 1926 – June 29, 2016) was an American businessman.

Early life and education

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f 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.
  2. ^ a b c d "End of era: Gault passes away at 90". The Daily Record. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Avon Chief Adds Post". New York Times. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Man who is Stan Gault: Things you know, and some you didn't". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  5. ^ a b c 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Nulty, Peter (4 April 1994). "THE NATIONAL BUSINESS HALL OF FAME - April 4, 1994". CNN Money. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  8. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". Academy of Achievement. American Academy of Achievement.
  9. ^ "The College of Wooster Mourns the Loss of Stanley C. Gault | The College of Wooster". Wooster College. Retrieved 2016-06-30.