About Gary Pools
Quality & Reliability
Building the American Dream Since 1954
DECADES OF SUCCESS
Since 1954, Gary Pools has been building the American dream in every shape, size and budget. With numerous innovations and awards, confidence comes standard in every single one of them. By designing the safest and most structurally sound pools under the sun, we promise you’ll be living your dream- for years to come.
Leif Zars
THE FOUNDER
Leif Zars received his engineering degree from Georgia Tech and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Business after serving in the Navy. Leif was a research engineer for the Ethyl Corporation from 1946 to 1954. While there, he secured patents that changed blending plant design worldwide.
Under Leif Zars’ long leadership, Gary Pools continues to rank as one of the country’s foremost innovators in the highly specialized pool design and construction field. He pioneered a monolithic wall to-wall cantilever structure to solve problems created by Texas’ expansive soil, and was responsible for developing a low-energy consumption swimming pool.
Leif continues to be an active voice in the swimming pool industry at the national level, including serving as the Chairman of the National Spa and Pool Institute Builders Council for several years, and Chairman of the National Swimming Pool Foundation. He has developed special rolled reinforcing steel called Gary Vanaloy™ Steel for added strength in pool construction. Additionally, Leif has designed, developed and produced a new main safety drain called the Primus® Safety Drain. This product was developed based on Leif’s studies on suction entrapment.
Leif Zars II
NEW OWNERSHIP
Now, after 64 years under the founder’s stewardship, Gary Pools is a multi-generational business. Leif Zars II has taken the responsibility of moving the company forward, with a renewed zeal for the business.