The Challenge

At 50, Malcolm G. Jones is an executive who keeps his eye on the clock. "When you reach my age," says he, "time starts running out. You want to meet a challenge and wrap it up, so that when you put your chips down, you can say, 'that's one I did.' " Last week, after 24 years with the Du Pont Co., the last two as director of synthetic fiber sales, Malcolm Jones went off to meet a new challenge--the chance to "run my own show." He became president of Manhattan's Robbins Mills, Inc., maker of synthetic fabrics for everything from clothing to auto upholstery and bulletproof vests.

Jones, who was born in Nanticoke, Pa., and graduated as a chemical engineer from Bucknell University, replaces William P. Saunders, 57, who was named vice chairman of the board. Robbins' Executive Vice President Herman Goodman, 50, who will run the company with Jones, moved up to board chairman. He succeeds Company Founder Karl Robbins, 60, who became honorary board chairman, a post that will give him "a chance to take things a little easier, and maybe improve my golf game."

Other personnel changes: P:Eli Lilly & Co. chose Executive Vice President Eugene N. Beesley, 44, to be its new president, the first nonmember of the Lilly family to head the company. Joining Lilly as a sales representative in 1929. Beesley worked his way up to sales manager of the Cleveland and Indianapolis districts, served as director of personnel and trade relations, finally as vice president of executive administration. He takes over the duties of Josiah Kirby

Lilly II, 59, the grandson of the founder and president since 1948, who moves up to vice chairman of the board.

P: As its new president, Alexander Smith, Inc. picked Treasurer James M. Elliott, 53, to replace William F. C. Ewing, 53, president and board chairman since 1950, who remains board chairman. Elliott, who continues as president of Greenville Mills, Inc., a Smith subsidiary, has also headed General Bottlers, Inc. and the margarine-making John F. Jelke Co. He came to Smith in 1951 as administrative vice pres ident and treasurer, will hold on to his treasury post.

P:General Time Corp. picked Executive Vice President (since 1948) Donald J. Hawthorne, 52, to succeed retiring President Arnold J. Wilson, 66, who will remain a director. A 1923 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Hawthorne joined General Time in 1925, became general manager of the Westclox Division and a vice president in 1940.

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