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| Brothers' Theodore Creswell and Frank L. "Pop" Pulliam founded a construction company in 1916. Because Theo had built many waterproof cattle-dipping vats, he was asked to build the first-ever swimming pools in Coryell County. His son Doren, remembers carrying drinking water to the laborers when his dad built the Gatesville Public Park pool in 1925. Doren Pulliam was later responsible for many firsts of his own. Using what he learned in the U.S. Navy construction battalion, he became an innovator in modern pool construction. In 1948, he purchased a gunite rig, the first in Tarrant County, and developed many of engineering and structural design standards that are still in use today. Some of his experiences building pools in Tarrant County were, to say the least, unusual. | 
It's Pool and patio time in the Greater Fort Worth Area-backyard barbecues, comfortable lunge chairs where you soak up some rays, and kids splashing water on your serenity. And, if you haven't noticed, backyard entertainment for some area folks ranks right up there with a trip to a fine restaurant or a pampered weekend mini-vacation at a five star hotel. It takes only a flight over our community to discover how much of Tarrant County's water supply ends up in private swimming pools. It's doubtful that there is any other area in the USA where people are more serious about their pools and patios. Over a period of several years, about 150 companies that once advertised in the Fort Worth Yellow Pages a "Swimming Pool Contractors" have disappeared. But a number of firms remain, among them Pulliam Pools. Locally owned Pulliam Pools has been in business since 1916, though in reality there was no such thing as a swimming pool contractor at that time. If you wanted a pool, you called a cement contractor. |
| Once, he built a pool for a horse. Another time, he built a pool in a basement, which required shoveling dirt out a window. Today the company is run by third-generation pool builder, Barry Pulliam, and his wife, Lizz. The company built 415 pools in 1998, and projects that it will build 500 in 1999. Cost of a pool runs from 18,950 (non-diving) and up, so it's not unusual for a homeowner to invest six figures in his or her back yard pool, patio and landscape. |  |
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| It's
simply a matter of how the homeowner wants to make his or her backyard
vacation spot.
Pulliam has been named one of the nations top 100 pool contractors several times by Aqua Magazine, a trade journal. The company, with walls and trophy cases filled with awards, received the national "Industry's Choice Award" in 1998. And Lizz Pulliam was chosen Swimming Pool/Spa Age Magazine as one of its only two "Rising Stars" for the year. This year another name joins the list of swimming pool contractors: Water Works Pool Service, a 24-year old company based in Fort Worth. The company president is Chuck Burr, mayor pro-tem of Benbrook. |
Although
Water Works only recently added pool construction to its repertoire, Terry
Dooling, operations manager, said the company maintains and repairs approximately
650 pools a week. The company will be profiled in this month's Aqua magazine
based on its reputation in the industry and ethical standards. But what's
a great pool without patio furniture to go with it? Mark Campbell, owner
of Texas Patios, said the pool-patio options today are much greater than
in the past.
"The materials are different," he said. "You can have something that has the upscale look of wicker, but isn't. It can be practically maintenance-free. And each year the industry comes out with more great colors." Campbell said the choice of furniture depends on space and the needs of the individual buying it. "You can buy for a dining experience, |
a conversational area, lounge chairs and a bar cart to go beside the pool-or for all those things. Outside has become a more of a focal point for families. The furniture is comfortable, and people are focusing on the outside." Campbell said a medium-price, five-piece dining set sells for $800-$900, but a high-end set can cost as much as $2,500. "The most patio furniture I've ever sold to one family ran around $20,000," he said. "That's unusual, of course, but it indicates that people are giving as much thought to their patio as to their den. The other day a man came in and told me he had three decks-and he had to buy something for each. Fun and sun around the pool and patio …it's the perfect weekend vacation right in your own back yard! |
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Phone: 817-346-4778
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E-mail: info@pulliam.com |
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Fax: 817-346-6353
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