PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
APRIL 2016
When technology started expanding exponentially, Clark spent time
learning 3D Design and brought
Pulliam’s design team into a new
era of pool design. He hardly knew
how to turn on a computer so his
efforts were greatly appreciated and
propelled the company into technologically savvy territory.
Clark said that “pool design has
definitely evolved over the years and
staying on top of continuous regulatory changes and city codes has
made the permit process cumbersome in many cities.”
Barry Pulliam implemented
construction criteria that propelled
the industry.
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“His wife, Lizz Pulliam, was a
marketing guru who had networking
down to a science,” Smith recalls.
“She was a master at telling the
Pulliam story, which lent even more
credibility to the company.”
In 1988, Barry was asked to join
the prestigious Aquatech group, an
invitation-only buying group. He
served on the board during his tenure
at Pulliam Pools. “He was recognized
throughout the years as an industry
leader who understood his business
and promoted new ideas,” Smith
said.
Smith joined the company in
1992.
In 1996, Lizz Pulliam started the
first drowning prevention program
in Tarrant County using the “Water
Watcher” tags implemented in
Orange County, California. It was
called, “Be Wise, Supervise.” The
program was so successful that Cook
Children’s Hospital took over the
program under its Safe Kids umbrella.
During Barry’s tenure, the company received numerous accolades and
awards. Baylor University recognized
Pulliam Pools as their Texas Family
Medium-Sized Business of the Year
in 2006 and inducted them into their
Small Business Hall of Fame for their
sixth win. Pulliam was also named
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Small Business of the Year in 1999
and 2005, and was awarded the firstever Better Business Bureau Torch
Award for Business Ethics in 2006.
Pulliam is a BBB Accredited Business
with an A+ Rating. Pulliam Pools was
named Big Business of the Year in
2008 by the Weatherford Chamber of
Commerce.
Pulliam was twice selected
National Pool Builder of the Year
by its industry peers and is the only
North Texas pool company to be
selected six times by Aqua Magazine
as one of the Top 100 Swimming
Pool Companies in the Nation, and
placed in their Pool Building Hall of
Fame.
When Pulliam Pools turned 90
years old in 2006, the company’s
then-vice president Debra Smith
wanted to add a new philanthropic
dimension to the company.
“My goal was to raise money to
help local and state charities,” Smith
said. “I felt the 90th anniversary
could be a giant stepping stone in
that endeavor.” Smith established
the Annual Pulliam Pools Golf
Tournament that year and since that
time Pulliam has donated three pools
for auction for the Texas Moslah
Shriners Children’s Hospitals of
Texas, and donated thousands of
dollars from the proceeds to charities
like the Careity Foundation, Center
of Hope, CASA, the Weatherford
College Foundation, Zonta
Scholarships, Grace House Ministries,
the Freedom House, to name a few.
Smith is always looking for ways
to help children. “With the help of
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