EXHIBIT A

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                                  PRESS RELEASE

               JOHN REILLY APPOINTED NEW CEO AT STANT CORPORATION
                                  (NASDAQ-STNT)

Richmond,  Indiana,  January 24, 1997 - Stant  Corporation  (NASDAQ:STNT)  today
announced  that it had appointed  John P. "Jack" Reilly as its new President and
Chief  Executive  Officer.  Mr. Reilly will take over from David R. Paridy,  who
retires after serving as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1987 and an
employee of Stant and its predecessors for 34 years.

         Ward W. Woods,  Chairman of the Board of Stant,  said, "We are grateful
to David Paridy for his many years of leadership. David has implemented a number
of momentous changes at Stant, including its buyout from Purolator,  the initial
public  offering and the  acquisition of Trico  Products.  He leaves the Company
with  excellent  prospects  for continued  growth.  We also look forward to Jack
Reilly taking over at Stant.  His  relationships  and  extensive and  successful
experience in the global auto parts  industry will be critical to continuing the
record of strong growth at Stant."

         David R. Paridy said, "I am proud of what has been  accomplished  since
Bessemer  Holdings and management  bought Stant  Manufacturing  in 1987. In nine
years,  the  Company  has grown  from $50  million in sales  generated  from one
product  line to over $650  million  from 19  product  lines  produced  on three
continents.  When the Company's results for 1996 are reported, they will reflect
record operating results and record earnings per share. After over three decades
of association,  I leave Stant in the good hands of Jack Reilly, knowing that he
will lead a company which enjoys  technological  leadership,  excellent customer
relationships and strong brand identity."

         In  addition  to his  appointment  as  President  and  Chief  Executive
Officer,  Mr.  Reilly has been  appointed a director of Stant to serve until the
next annual meeting of stockholders.

         Jack  Reilly,  who is 53,  served  since 1995 as Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief  Executive  officer of Figgie  International  where he led a
major restructuring of the company and its business units. From 1993 to 1994, he
was  President  and  Chief   Operating   Officer  of   Chicago-based   Brunswick
Corporation.  Mr. Reilly has spent 28 years working in the  automotive  industry
including nine with Tenneco  Automotive,  serving from 1987 to 1993 as President
and Chief Executive Officer. Tenneco Automotive posted record earnings each year
during  his  tenure.  Earlier  in  his  career,  he  played  a key  role  in the
restructuring of International Harvester (now Navistar,  Inc.). Prior to that he
held positions of increasing responsibility with Chrysler.





         Mr.  Reilly held the  position  of Chairman of the Auto Parts  Advisory
Committee to the U.S.  Department of Commerce on trade with Japan.  He served as
Chairman of the Motor and Equipment  Manufacturers  Association which recognized
Mr.  Reilly's  service to the industry by  presenting  him with its  prestigious
Triangle  Award in 1992. In 1991,  Mr. Reilly  received the  Automotive  Hall of
Fame's  Distinguished  Service  Citation.  He was  also  named  1991  Automotive
Aftermarket  Man of the  Year  by  Motor  Magazine  for  his  leadership  in the
worldwide automotive industry.

         Mr.  Reilly  serves as a member of the Board of  Directors  of  Trinova
Corporation,  a world  leader  in the  engineered  components  and  systems  for
industrial, aerospace, defense and automotive markets. He will continue to serve
as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Figgie International.

         Stant  Corporation is a leading  manufacturer  of parts and systems for
the original  equipment and  replacement  automotive,  heavy duty and industrial
markets. Stant products include Stant (R) closure caps, valves, heater cores and
thermostats;  Trico (R) and  Roberk  (R) wiper  blades  and  refills;  Ideal (R)
clamps:  Plews (R) and Lubrimatic  (R)  lubrication  tools and specialty  tools;
Tru-Flate (R) tire accessories; Edelmann (R) automotive fittings, power steering
hose and remanufactured  power steering units; Ideal (R) hazard warning flashers
and various private label products.



Contact:          Thomas E. Schmitt
                  Sr. Vice-President and CFO
                  Stant Corporation
                  (317) 962-6655