John Ashby Yates ’52
John Ashby Yates ’52 passed away on November 21, 2022, at home in Artesia, New Mexico. John was born August 10, 1929, in Artesia, graduated from Artesia High School, and went on to study economics at Dartmouth. Before graduating he returned to Artesia to work in the oil patch in 1951. John had a great passion for exploring oil and natural gas and spent his career in that field. He encouraged his brothers to operate together as an entity as Yates Petroleum, which they founded in 1960. In their own style, including wildcatting and risk-taking enterprises, they also worked for the collective interests of the parent company started by their father in the early 1920s. John was known for persistently drilling more wildcat wells than any major company. He served as an officer in Yates Petroleum until he retired as chairman emeritus in 2016, when Yates merged into EOG Resources Inc. John in 2016 then founded John A. & Charlotte G. Yates Legacy LLC, where he served as chairman of the board until his passing. He was also an active investor, serving on many community and industry boards and receiving many honors, including an honorary doctorate of laws from New Mexico State University. John was preceded in death by his first wife, Peggy, son Martin, and stepson Greg. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, and three children and their families, including 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
