The Interior Department awarded in Washington on Jan. 21, 1963 a contract to Struthers Scientific and International Corp., for design and construction of the world's largest freezing process saline water conversion plant to be built at Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Posing after the signing ceremony are: seated, from left, John Pik President of the corporation, and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall; standing, Mayor Lawrence Rose of Wrightsville Beach. Rep. Alton Lennon, D-N.C.; Peter H. Braak, County Commissioner of New Hanover; Secretary of Commerce Luther Hodges; Rep. Walter Rogers, D-Tex., and Sen. Sam Erwin, D-N.C. (AP Photo/ Charles Gorry)