Respected industry leader Mike Moore, CEO of Morehead Pools in Shreveport, La., passed away from a heart attack on Feb. 22. He was 57.
Moore was a second-generation pool builder who worked alongside his wife, Monica, to grow the family business almost tenfold while serving the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas area. The company regularly appears among PSN’s Top 50 Builders.
It was in Moore’s first year of college that he decided to come back home and work for his parents, who bought a prospering pool company from the original owner, Hal Morehead. Moore worked in construction, service and operations before assuming company ownership in 2000.
In 2003, the business made $1.6 million in revenue and opened a second location in Bossier, La. The rapidly growing firm entered Arkansas with its third location in 2008. By 2012, Morehead Pools made nearly $8 million in revenue, ranking No. 13 on PSN’s Top Builders list. The firm continued to rise, landing at 10th and 9th places in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Mike and Monica Moore also ushered a third generation into prominent roles within the company. Son Michael, 35, now is vice president. Daughter Michelle, 31, works in operations. Both have spouses involved in the business, as well.
Monica Moore continues to oversee the company as president.
Outside of work, Moore could be found serving his church as a deacon, and coaching middle- and high school kids in summer league basketball programs, leading them to become state champions.
“Coach Mike” applied some of that same courtside guidance to business.
“He would always say ‘Make your teammate an All-American’ and he also believed that in business,” son Michael said.
The elder Moore led employees using what he called the “Four E’s” — Educate, Equip, Edify and Empower. But this was more than a mantra. His son estimates the company spends $80,000 to $100,000 per year sending staff to trade shows and educational functions.
Moore, a longtime member of the Master Pools Guild, also stressed that the business would always be open to serve customers, even in the face of tragedy.
“He always said, ‘If something happens to me, I need you to promise me you’ll always open the door,’” his son recalled.
True to his wishes, Morehead Pools was open for business the Tuesday after his death, which occurred on a Sunday. The only reason it wasn’t open on Monday was because of a rare snowstorm that struck the Deep South.
Moore passed away in Palm Springs, Calif., where he had traveled to watch his beloved Louisiana State University Tigers softball team beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 10-2.
He was such a big supporter of the program that the team honored Moore with his initials on the back of their helmets throughout the season.
In addition to his wife, children and their spouses, Moore is survived by six grandchildren, two aunts and an uncle.
