PERSONNEL: Changes of the Week, may 24, 1954

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¶James M. Symes, 56, who started railroading as a train master's clerk, was elected president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Railroading has taken him to almost every town and branch line on the system: one year he spent 200 nights on sleepers. The son of a baggage master, Symes (rhymes with hymns) grew up near the tracks in his native Glen Osborne, Pa., got a job at 18 on the Pennsy. From clerk he was soon promoted to car tracer, to statistician in Cleveland, to freight movement director in Pittsburgh, to passenger superintendent in Chicago, to freight chief for the entire system. For the job he did heading up the Pennsy's western region during World War II, he was named operational vice president, then executive vice president. As a Pennsy executive, Symes pressed for diesels, modern passenger cars, and became an outspoken critic of the Interstate Commerce Commission's "too little and too late" policy on fare increases. He is credited with clearing the way for downtown Philadelphia's Penn Center, now being built on the former site of the Pennsy's Broad Street Station. Symes predicted that the Pennsy will make money this year despite a first-quarter loss. He takes over from Walter S. Franklin, who will retire next week at 70. ¶Richard C. Doane, 56, moved up from vice president and general sales manager to president of International Paper Co., the world's biggest paper company. Doane joined International Paper as a salesman in 1924, rose to manager of newsprint sales, and in 1949 stepped up to the board of directors. As president he succeeds John H. Hinman, 68, who continues as chief executive officer and moves into the new job of board chairman.