INDUSTRY: How to Woo New Businesses

Many a state in the Union wanted to land the big new plant. It would cost $25 million to $35 million, employ 1,500, be the first in the U.S. to produce a Dacron-like fiber called Teron. This week the site was announced by its joint builders—Britain's Imperial Chemical Industries and the Celanese Corp. of America. Their choice was Shelby, N.C. One major reason for choosing North Carolina, said Celanese, was the "wholehearted cooperation" of Governor Luther Hartwell Hodges.

Energetic, engaging Luther Hodges, 60, ranks as the South's No. i salesman. He is...