The first non-Lilly family member to serve as president, Beesley joined the pharmaceutical company at the age of 20, and worked in a variety of positions before becoming an executive level manger. Under Beesley’s leadership, research and development expanded greatly, but costs were also trimmed as depreciation and other expenses were cut. Though his tenure as CEO was brief, Beesley’s time at the helm of Eli Lilly allowed net sales to grow from $480 million in 1968 to just under $820 million in 1972.