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

Early life and education

He was born on January 6, 1926, in Wooster, Ohio, to Clyde and Asenath Gault. He graduated from the College of Wooster in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in geology, and remained as Chairman Emeritus of the Board. While studying at the College of Wooster, he served in the Army Air Corps as a B-29 gunner during World War II.

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. In 1979, he was named Chairman of the Board and CEO of Rubbermaid. After taking over at Rubbermaid, Gault removed all but two managers at the company and reorganized it. He led the company through a series of divestitures and strategic investments that increased the company's profitability. While he stripped weak product lines and slashed excess cost, he invested in new product development. Later Rubbermaid CEOs, including Wolfgang Schmitt, were seen as less than adequate compared to Gault and the company's profits dropped. Rubbermaid ended up being bought in 1999 by a competitor, Newell.

Starting in 1985, Gault was appointed as a director at Avon Products, Inc. He became CEO and Chairman of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company after retiring from Rubbermaid in 1991.

In 1994, he was inducted into Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame. In 1995, Gault received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

In 2001, Gault stepped down as director at Avon.

Gault died on June 29, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio, after a brief illness. Gault often donated to the city of Wooster and his alma mater.

References

1. ^ 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. ^ "End of era: Gault passes away at 90". The Daily Record. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016.
3. ^ "Avon Chief Adds Post". New York Times. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
4. ^ "Man who is Stan Gault: Things you know, and some you didn't". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
5. ^ 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.

• 1926 births
• 2016 deaths
• People from Wooster, Ohio
• College of Wooster alumni
• Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company people
• American chief executives of manufacturing companies