2 Fort Worth firms win family business award - Oct. 9, 2000

   Fort Worth companies pulled in the honors at the 11th annual Outstanding Family Business awards sponsored by Baylor University's Institute for Family Business.

   Pulliam Pools won for businesses with 50 or fewer employees, and Branch-Smith won the category for businesses with 51 to 250 employees. In addition, Cargill Associates, a fundraising organization, was among the finalists.

   Both Pulliam and Branch-Smith have been recognized by the institute previously, Pulliam in 1997 and Branch-Smith just last year. But it was the first time each won the "best-in-class" prize.

   Pulliam is more than 80 years old and in its third generation. It also has been recognized by an industry publication as one of the nation's top 50 pool builders and is a past Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year winner. 

   Branch-Smith is more than 90 years old and in its fourth generation. It has printing, publishing, promotions and advertising operations. It also won a Texas Quality Award last year, a state recognition modeled after the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. 

   Cargill, which was founded in 1976, has helped churches and not-for-profit organizations raise $3 billion. It charges a flat fee plus expenses for what it describes as a mix of modern methods and old-fashioned Bible traditions of giving.

   The winners will be honored Oct. 19 at a Waco ceremony.