Beto Garcia, a resident of Edmond, OK, for the past 20 years, relocated from San Antonio after 15 years with Blue Haven Pools of San Antonio, where he worked in sales, construction, and service. He had such a well-rounded, hands-on pool construction education under his mentor, Larry Worthey, that he was offered the opportunity to purchase the Oklahoma City franchise. He developed the OKC office into one of the most successful Blue Haven franchises in the country. Both he and Denise are extremely grateful to Al Eisman, one of the founders of Blue Haven Pools, for giving him the opportunity in Oklahoma. Beto later purchased Blue Haven of Kansas City and Blue Haven of Tulsa. These are notable accomplishments for a man who grew up in poverty in South Texas. But his Mom had determination and an amazing work ethic to make a better life for her 3 boys.
After graduating from high school in Mercedes, TX, Beto joined the Air Force to avail himself of the benefits the military had to offer. After service in Viet Nam, he returned to Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, where he worked until he was honorably discharged in 1972. He attended St. Philip’s College in SA while working as a bartender. He landed a job with the Marriott, working his way up from bartender to beverage catering supervisor. Marriott offered him a position in their new facility in New Orleans, a great opportunity for advancement. But the long hours and stress took a toll on him. He moved back to San Antonio and worked as bar manager in a great new restaurant and club where he met his wife Denise, the restaurant manager, in 1982. They married in 1983.
Beto discovered his talent for sales when one of his bar clients suggested he go into car sales. He was salesman of the month his second month on the job. Once he honed his skills in sales, he applied for swimming pool sales at Blue Haven in 1985. He found a new love: designing swimming pools. No CAD then. Denise bought him a drawing table and chair so that he would come home and work while watching the Spurs or the Dallas Cowboys. The family room floor was constantly covered with eraser debris. He was in the Top Ten in sales for all Blue Haven Pools offices for least 10 years, maybe longer. The friends and memories he and Denise made with people from all over the country held an incredibly special place in his heart.
Besides loving his wife, his family, his dogs, his friends, and growing his businesses (not always in that order), he loved traveling the world, especially Italy, salmon fishing in Alaska, deep sea fishing off the Texas Coast, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and always held hope for those Cowboys. And he loved doing things for his employees to show his appreciation for helping him attain his goals He knew he could not have done it without them. He loved to mentor his salespeople and stand behind his employees. If someone cursed or spoke disrespectfully to them, they would know the wrath of Beto Garcia. All he wanted for all employees was the successes that they wanted for themselves and that they could provide for their families.
The family is having a private memorial service 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 31, 2020. The service will be live streamed at https://tinyurl.com/hcfhlive.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the following:
Country Roads Animal Rescue Society, rescuing dogs/puppies left to die and adoptable dogs in rural shelters before they are euthanized: www.countryroadsanimalrescue.com
The Bethel Foundation, assisting single mothers: thebethelfoundationusa.com
Free to Live, a no kill animal shelter: https: freetolive.org
National Psoriasis Foundation: https.thepsoriasisfoundation.org
