Zelma "Zee" Mabel Allred

A private family service will take place at a later date.

The Allred family greatly appreciates all of the love and support shown during this difficult time.

Please share fond memories and stories of Zelma by clicking the link below.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations be sent to some of Zee's favorite charitable organizations she loved:

https://www.chapman.edu/support-chapman/index.aspx

https://www.scfta.org/support-us/make-a-donation

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It is with great sadness that I announce the loss of a great friend of Chapman University: Zelma “Zee” Allred. Zee, who had served Chapman University as a trustee for more than three decades, passed away on January 30, 2023. Zee was appointed to Chapman’s Board of Trustees in 1989 and helped secure the tremendous success that Chapman experienced as it grew from a respected small liberal arts college to a nationally ranked research university.

Zee was an individual of incomparable integrity, foresight, and business acumen. If I had to describe her in a single word, I, and many others, would say “entrepreneur.” With a $500 loan, she was able to create a multimillion-dollar company, Pool Water Products, that employs hundreds of people and serves communities across the nation.

In addition to being the cofounder and CEO of Pool Water Products, she was an equal partner in Pentagon A Investments, a real estate leasing company, and an equal partner in Aqua Tri, a chemical manufacturing company. Her unwavering commitment to development and incredible entrepreneurial spirit were recognized on multiple occasions by the community at large. The Orange County Business Journal once named her one of the “100 Most Influential People of Orange County,” and in 2014, she received the Life Achievement Award during the Orange County Business Journal’s 20th Annual Women in Business Awards Luncheon.

With her success, Zee found it essential to give back and provide opportunities for growth for other organizations. She served on the boards of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Western Medical Center (now known as Orange County Global Medical Center), Opera Pacific and the National Assistance League, providing guidance and support to organizations that define the well-being of Orange County.

Among the other organizations that have benefitted from Zee’s generosity are the Assessment and Treatment Services Center, UCI Medical Research and Education Society, Bowers Museum, Pacific Symphony, and South Coast Repertory. Whether she was serving on a board to offer her wisdom or providing financial support, she gave freely to foster Orange County’s strength. She was widely regarded as a transformational figure whose business skills and generosity empowered Southern California’s business and nonprofit sectors.

While Zee’s philanthropy was widespread, Chapman was truly fortunate to be one of the focal points of her selfless spirit. She gave major gifts to nearly every corner of our campus, from Chapman Athletics to Beckman Hall, from the Fish Interfaith Center to the Leatherby Libraries. Nonetheless, direct support toward students through scholarships was one of the most consistent avenues of her generosity.

Considering that all proceeds from American Celebration (now Chapman Celebrates) and the Economic Forecast went to student scholarships, it is no surprise that Zee consistently gave to and attended these annual traditions, especially as they aligned with her love of the arts and business. And as she always looked for ways to connect with the Chapman community, especially our Panthers, she was also a faithful and active member of both Women of Chapman and Town & Gown.

Chapman’s President Emeritus and long-time friend, Dr. Jim Doti, said of Zee’s passing, “Zee’s amazing entrepreneurial ability built a business powerhouse. More importantly, she used that success to transform our university and community. What an incredible inspiration she was to me and many others!”

Zee exemplified leadership in all its forms and undeniably saw everyone at Chapman as family. As she was a trustee, donor, loyal member of Chapman support groups and grandparent of Chapman alumni, it is an honor to know that Chapman carries forward her name and legacy on our campus through the Zee Allred Aquatics Center and the Allred Olympic Pool, which is the home to Chapman’s swimming and diving teams as well as our water polo teams.

My heart goes out to her family, and I hope they take comfort in knowing that her spirit lives on at Chapman University.

A Force of Nature

Pool & Spa News

By Dean Stevens

“Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind,” wrote the philosopher Henry David Thoreau. That was certainly the case in March when Zelma “Zee” Allred, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Pool Water Products, was honored at a gala and fashion show for the nearly 30 years of time and resources she’s donated to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, a Southern California non-profit arts organization. This wasn’t the first time in the honoree’s seat for Allred. Over the years she’s received tributes from a wide range of philanthropic and educational organizations, all of which consider her a key ingredient in accomplishing their mission. Such recognitions round out an already extraordinary life, one in which she has become an industry pioneer.

But the journey to that seat of honor had a rather humble start, and has taken more than one unexpected turn along the way.

Modest Beginnings

It was 1952, and the young family was en route from Arizona to Davis, California, where Marvin Allred was slated to start a Ph.D. program. Both he and Zee had been chemistry majors, but she had dropped out of college to raise their two sons, Vern and Dean. Before heading north, the family decided to spend a summer in the beautiful, largely undeveloped community of Newport Beach. Marvin took what was supposed to be a temporary office job with a local construction company that built pools, among other things. But rather than continuing on to Davis, the Allred’s stayed in Orange County where Marvin soon became a foreman.

At that time, a strong economy, housing boom and new construction techniques were helping grow the fledgling pool market and the Allred’s saw an opportunity. They borrowed $500 to buy a truck and pool service route, and soon were in business for themselves.

Marvin worked in the field, while Zee took care of bookkeeping, answered phones, dealt with suppliers and raised the boys.

The couple’s timing and strategy couldn’t have been better. By 1958, they were ready to open a retail store, Allred’s Pool Supply, where they used their technical background to create a unique service for customers. The new concept of in-house water testing gave clients a reason to visit the store, and soon the Allred’s started holding pool care classes there.

“We were the very first in Orange County to offer that kind of service.” Zee says. “Our customers really liked the fact that we had proper lab equipment and knowledge… This service was key to our rapid growth and expansion.”

Gaining Speed

Marvin and Zee were partners in every sense of the word. Their desks faced each other, and together they worked long hours building the business. Vern and Dean would come to the store after school and stay until closing time.

By 1964, the Allred’s had 18 retail stores. This would be considered a large presence even by today’s standards, but it was massive back then, taking into account how much smaller the industry was overall. However, the two entrepreneurs saw an even bigger opportunity – one that presented less stress than the daily retail grind. They decided to enter the supply-side of the pool business. So they franchised their stores and opened PWP.

The Allreds’ list of innovations continued. PWP offered a nationwide catalog with instructions for using certain products, a revolutionary idea at the time. And instead of making their customers visit a warehouse, they provided air-conditioned showrooms where builders and service technicians could view cutaways and pick up product literature. The Allred’s also adapted a practice they had started in their retail stores. Once a month the couple invited manufacturers to drop by and demonstrate their products, providing lunch so service people would take time from their routes, eat, and learn.

Business continued to thrive, and by the late ‘60s Vern and Dean were in college and a daughter, Carol Ann was born. Zee decided to take a year off to care for the new child, and then came another of life’s unexpected turns. 1n 1968, at the age of 42, Marvin suffered a massive heart attack.

The ripple effects were staggering, Zee was forced to go back to work and take the reins of the company while Marvin recovered. But even after open-heart surgery – a very new procedure at the time – his physical condition never returned to normal. “The doctors ordered him to never pick up anything heavier than a pair of shoes,” Zee said.

The couple eventually grew apart and divorced, but by all accounts remained close until Marvin’s death in 2005. Zee retained ownership of PWP, and Marvin ran one of the less stressful franchised retail operations.

Second Career

PWP flourished under Zee’s leadership. In 1973, she opened a second location in suburban Los Angeles, and today, PWP has 20 branches in five states, along with a substantial international business.

The success leaves Zee Allred extremely grateful, not only to the industry and the employees who helped build the firm, but also to her community in Orange County. It’s served as motivation behind her extensive philanthropy and community service.

“I’ve made a good living in Orange County.” She says. “It’s important to me to give back to the community that’s given me so much.”

Since her charitable work began in 1975, Allred’s list of causes has grown steadily. She serves on the boards of hospitals, works on behalf of women and families, and contributes considerable time, energy and funds to a variety of educational institutions and initiatives. “It’s like another job,” she said.

The Segerstrom Center is a good example. Allred’s involvement dates back to 1983, when she joined forces with other business leaders to build a world-class facility for the performing arts. Through the years, the group opened one of Southern California’s largest performing arts centers, now a sprawling campus containing two full-scale concert halls, a theater, studio space, education lab and a host of related amenities.

But Allred is equally moved by the good the Center does – particularly for children. All the money raised by the Guilds, the support organization that honored her at the March gala, funds educational programs for the center which serve approximately 400,000 children each year. It has provided arts education on its campus, and in schools, to more than six million kids and educators.

“Schools bring children to watch events at the Center,” Allred said. “It’s not unusual to drive by and see 20 to 30 school buses in the parking lot.”

One of her most visible contributions ties together a passion for education with her standing in the pool and spa industry. In 2008, she funded the Zee Allred Aquatics Center and Olympic Pool at Chapman University, a private college in Orange, California.

“We now have top Olympic swimmers who have chosen to attend Chapman because they can train here in this state-of-the-art facility.” said university President James Doti.

Chapman found a meaningful way to thank Allred. For all the success, there was one major regret that bothered her over the years – not finishing college. That aspiration was fulfilled two years ago when she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Chapman University.

Today, Allred is still working full-time from home and PWP’s Irvine, California headquarters. She had to decelerate a bit in 2005, when she suffered her own heart attack, but returned to both PWP and her community activities as soon as possible.

“Zee Allred is a force of nature – you have to see her in action to believe it,” Doti said.