Donors Dive In: Three generations of families make waves and impact Bolles swimming

Posted on May 7, 2021 By Editor Junior Residents

Members and friends of the Tarver family were the first to jump into Bolles’ new pool, named the Tarver Pool

Members and friends of the Tarver family were the first to jump into Bolles’ new pool, named the Tarver Pool, in honor of Jack Tarver, grandfather of Missy Pearson, who, with her husband, Josh Pearson, has five children who graduated from or are attending The Bolles School. The Tarver family’s generous gift made the pool construction possible.

The family convened for a celebratory jump recently – launching a new addition to Bolles Aquatics. The Pearsons’ five children are Emmy, who graduated from Bolles in 2019, and current students, senior Kallie, sophomore Jessie, seventh grader Jack, and fourth grader Charley.

The Pearsons’ philanthropy advances the future of Bolles Swimming, an area of athletics that has been personally meaningful to the family over the years. The Pearsons have been avid participants in and supporters of competitive swimming and are committed to taking the Bolles Swimming and Diving program to new levels. Missy’s sister, Katie Jason Oldoerp, swam for Bolles from 1989-1994 and went on to swim collegiately at Dartmouth College.

“Our goal is to offer a program to develop people of excellence and elite performances and Tarver Pool takes us to the next level,” Bolles Head Coach and Aquatics Director Peter Verhoef said.

Missy’s grandfather, Jack Tarver was chairman of the board of Cox Enterprises, the publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, chairman of the board of Atlanta’s Federal Reserve Bank and chairman of the Associated Press at the time of his passing in 1999. He left a widow, Margaret Taylor Tarver, and two children, including daughter Margaret Tarver Jason, Missy’s mother.

The Tarver Pool completes Phase I of the redevelopment of Bolles’ pool facilities. Work now enters Phase II of planned expansion for Bolles’ aquatics program, which includes expansion of the dry-land training room, welcome center, coaches offices and new meeting/venue space overlooking both the school’s Uible Pool and the track and stadium area.