Highly Successful New Mexico Businessman Mack Chase Passes Away at 92

Successful New Mexico businessman Mack Chase passed away on October 2, 2023, in Artesia, NM, at the age of 92. Chase made his mark in the oil and gas industry and other endeavors, including Chase Farms, Chase Pecans, Caza Ranches and others.

Mack was born April 29, 1931, the fourth of eight children to Edgar and Marie Chase. He was raised in Artesia, NM, and married the love of his life, Marilyn, in 1953 after returning from being an A&E mechanic in the U.S. Army. He worked with his elder brother, George, in the oil field for many years before branching out on his own, creating Mack Energy.

Mack received numerous awards throughout his life, including the Artesia Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, the Permian Basin Top Hand Award, Oil & Gas Hall of Fame Inductee and a New Mexico Public Education Lifetime Achievement Award. Mack’s impact and generosity in Artesia will be felt for years from his support of many programs and projects, including Artesia Public Schools, Bulldog Bowl, Mack Chase Athletic Complex, Artesia Public Library and many more. Mack made Artesia a better place to live with his generosity in giving and making an impact on people’s lives.

In 2006, Mack and Marilyn started the Chase Foundation with the primary goal of giving AHS students the opportunity to attend a college or university of their choice. Through today, this program has funded scholarships of 2,000 students with over 900 Artesia students with a college degree. Mack’s legacy in his scholarship program has changed a generation with these graduates becoming our future leaders.

Mack loved to hunt, fish and spend time with his siblings, children, grandchildren and close friends. Mack loved his children and grandchildren dearly and would give wisdom to each at any opportunity or simply as a joke to make everyone laugh. Mack was always the prankster and wanted to put a smile on everyone’s face.