From the Olympics to Virginia City: Storey County company gives back with community pool donation

The same diving boards used by Olympic athletes around the world are manufactured right here in Storey County.

Now, thanks to a generous donation made possible through Duraflex International and the Raymond C. Rude Supporting Foundation, local swimmers at the Storey County Community Pool will soon enjoy brand-new competition-quality diving boards built just a few miles from where they'll be installed.

For Bonnie Read, executive assistant to Duraflex management and the granddaughter of Raymond C. Rude, the donation represents more than replacing aging equipment. It reflects the legacy her grandfather built: using the success of the company he founded to give back to the community and the sport that inspired it.

"Virginia City Park Pool in Storey County is truly our closest neighbor," Read said.

A small company with a global impact

Although many residents may not recognize the name Duraflex, there's a good chance they've seen its products on television.

Duraflex manufactures competition diving boards and stands used at universities, aquatic centers and international competitions around the world. The company's springboards made their Olympic debut at the 1960 Summer Games in Rome, and Duraflex remains an official supplier for the Olympic Games and qualifying events today.

"We work very hard to see that each board performs exactly the same at UNR as it does in Beijing, London, Mexico and so on," Read said.

The boards are designed to help divers consistently perform at the highest level while also supporting dryland training for sports such as skiing, snowboarding and high diving.

Despite its worldwide reach, Duraflex has remained a relatively small company.

"There are only so many facilities with diving, and our boards seem to last a lifetime," Read said. "The diving boards pulled from Virginia City's pool were built in 1964."

Built on a family legacy

Duraflex traces its roots back to Raymond C. Rude, a former Lockheed engineer who designed an aluminum replacement diving board for inventor Donald Leslie in the early 1950s.

As demand grew, Rude founded Arcadia Air Products to manufacture the boards before eventually relocating production from Southern California to Northern Nevada in the early 1960s.

"We were the third business in what is now known as the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center," Read said.

Rude chose the location because it offered room to grow along with access to major trucking routes and rail lines. More importantly, it became the place where he built the legacy that still guides the company today.

"It's all about the athlete," Rude often reminded his family.

That philosophy continues to shape Duraflex's work, with company leaders regularly consulting Olympians and elite divers to improve their products.

Today, Duraflex operates under an unique ownership structure that reflects Rude’s vision for the company’s future. Following his passing in 2004, ownership interests were established through the Raymond C. Rude Supporting Foundation and the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada. The structure allows profits from Duraflex to support the community and the sport of diving, continuing the legacy Rude built more than 60 years ago.

A conversation that turned into a community partnership

The donation to the Storey County Community Pool came about unexpectedly.

Read was registering a vehicle when she mentioned what Duraflex manufactures. That conversation led Storey County Director of Business Development Lara Mather to connect her with Community Services Director Jessie Fain and Parks Superintendent Jeff Holman.

After seeing the pool's aging diving equipment, Read initially suggested applying for one of the foundation's grants to refurbish the existing boards.

The need was clear. Each summer, the Storey County Community Pool serves approximately 100 local children and families each day, making the pool an important gathering place for residents during the warmer months.

Holman delivered the boards to the Duraflex factory the very next morning.

“One of the things that makes Storey County special is that our businesses don't just operate here; they become part of our community. Duraflex is a world-renowned company whose products are used on the biggest stages in diving, yet they took the time to invest in a community pool that serves local families every day. That's exactly the kind of partnership we're proud to foster,” said Mather.

When Read presented the proposal to the Raymond C. Rude Supporting Foundation Board of Directors, President and Olympic medalist Tom Gompf had another idea.

Rather than refurbishing the old equipment, the foundation chose to provide brand-new diving boards and stands, along with installation.

"When Jessie shared the number of kids and families who utilize the pool each summer, I felt this was urgent," Read said.

Investing in the next generation

For Read, the donation reflects the values her grandfather established decades ago.

Supporting young athletes has always been central to the mission behind the Raymond C. Rude Supporting Foundation. Through support of grassroots diving clubs, academies and community projects, the foundation continues Rude’s belief that sports help young people build strength, courage and discipline.

She hopes every child who steps onto the new boards discovers something more than the excitement of making a splash.

"Conquering fear of water and the heights above the water will create a confident young person who won't back away from a challenge because they know they can succeed," Read said.