New Mexican oil and gas businessman Mack Chase, the owner of Mack Energy Corporation, recently passed away. As the gas and oil industry booms in New Mexico, New Mexico House Republican members Jim Townsend, Cathrynn Brown, and Jimmy Mason sent their condolences.
"It is with deepest condolences that we mourn the passing of Mack Chase," said Townsend, Brown, and Mason. "We express our condolences to the Chase family, Mack Energy employees, and the community who will no doubt feel the loss of Mack, who championed our communities and oil and gas industry in New Mexico."
According to an Albuquerque Journal article from Yahoo News, Chase was the founder of businesses such as the Artesia-based Mack Energy Corporation, Chase Farms, and Chase Energy Services, and at one point was the richest person in New Mexico. He died on Oct. 2, at the age of 92. He is survived by three children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Chase was also a well-known philanthropist. He and his wife started The Chase Foundation in 2006 and established the Chase Scholarship Program in 2007 for qualified Artesia High School seniors. Since then, 900 students in the Chase Scholarship Program have graduated from college, and there are currently 250 in the program. The program allows these students to pursue higher education with little to no debt upon graduation, as reported by the Artesia Daily Press.
Chase moved to Artesia as a child and graduated from Artesia High School in 1950. After serving in the Korean War, he started the Chase Well Service in 1954. He later started Mack Chase Inc. and eventually began Mack Energy Corporation in 1990. Forbes named Chase the richest person in New Mexico in 2019, with a net worth of $700 million, according to an Albuquerque Journal article from Yahoo News.
Since his death, there has been an outpouring of gratitude for his philanthropic and community work over the years, according to an Albuquerque Journal article from Yahoo News.