Luther H. Hodges and Hugh Morton fished together at Grandfather Lake, and their families shared many happy days on the mountain. They also shared a common commitment to the state of North Carolina, with Hodges leaving a legacy of public service, industrialization, education and the establishment of Research Triangle Park, and Morton leaving a legacy of nature conservation, education and the creation and preservation of Grandfather Mountain as an attraction for the public.
Luther H. Hodges Jr. is celebrating both men and the shared histories of their families through a gift to the Fulfilling Promises Campaign.
“The Mountain has been a significant part of our lives, and I wanted to honor it,” Hodges said. “And I thought that doing something in Hugh’s name and my father’s name was the best way to do that.”
Hodges chose to support the refurbishment of the auditorium on the mountain, knowing that it would host gatherings for children and adults where they could learn from today’s environmental education experts and visionaries. He believes in the importance of staying connected to nature and in learning about it.
“I’ve stayed close to the Morton family, and I wanted to do something for Hugh and for the Mountain,” Hodges said. “There are several things that I have decided that I would truly support, but only if it’s meaningful. And I think this is. The educational aspects of it are good and important, and I hope the theater will attract more people to the Mountain.”