John Reynolds has been in the swimming pool business in Owensboro since 1970. He started building pools under his uncle’s guidance when he was a teenager and never looked back.
“I got out of high school and started working for my uncle that summer and never did leave,” Reynolds said. “I think we built four pools the first year I worked for him.”
Reynolds retired last month with support from his family. He laughed when he said he had been thinking about retirement for 50 years.
Reynolds is retiring because he’s hoping to be able to spend more time with his 6-year-old granddaughter.
“I think he’s ready to slow down a little bit and spend time with family instead of being locked down not being able to travel and do things,” said Reynolds’ son. “I know he puts a lot in it, especially times during the pool opening and closing season. He works a lot of times 12 to 13 hours a day.”
Reynolds estimated that he built more than 750 commercial and residential pools throughout Kentucky and Indiana. He said at one point they were putting in over 30 pools in one year.
In the last 15 years, however, he has built only two because he’s instead been busy repairing, remodeling, cleaning, opening and closing more 200 pools per year.
“We just built some of the finest and best pools in the area,” he said.
Reynolds said he’s retired but he’s still on call for Clear Water Pool Service, who recently bought out Reynolds’ business.
