Walmart 1997 Annual Report Download - page 9

The m odesty of a m a n w ho’s rea ched the top
Stanley Gault, retired chairman of
the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and,
before that, Rubbermaid Inc., has
been honored by countless business
groups and publications such as
Fortune magazine. Perhaps most
notably, two years ago he was named
International Executive of the Year
by Brigham Young University for
his leadership and high moral
and ethical standards. In addition,
he brings the perspective of
Wal-Mart’s vendor-partners to our
board. Despite the accolades he’s
received, Gault is modest about
his role at Wal-Mart. “I hope to
use my almost 50 years of (business)
experience to the benefit of
Wal-Mart associates, customers
and shareholders,” he says.
John Walton likes to have his
“old van worked on” in the
Wal-Mart automotive department
while he shops. Walton enjoys
the associates at his local
Wal-Mart — they’re almost family.
“I’ve grown up with the company,”
says the son of founder
Sam Walton. In fact, John Walton
was Wal-Mart’s second pilot
(Sam was No. 1). John’s current
business interests include invest-
ments in small companies in a
wide variety of industries. As he
considers American business,
Walton is convinced that Wal-Mart
has been a positive force because
of its integrity, customer service,
and its “influence on the shopping
experience.” Before Sam Walton
died, John told him that “what
he had done went far beyond
Wal-Mart to make American
business better.” When he’s not
involved with business, John
Walton is working to make a
difference in American education.
M a k ing business better
7