Reaction among Oklahoma’s oil and gas sector and business community was one of shock and sadness over the traffic death Wednesday morning of indicted oilman Aubrey McClendon.
Oilman T-Boone Pickens tweeted his statement.
“I’ve known Aubrey McClendon for nearly 25 years. He was a major player in leading the stunning energy renaissance in America. He was charismatic and a true American entrepreneur. No individual is without flaws, but his impact on American energy will be long-lasting.”
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett knew McClendon who was also one of the owners of the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Aubrey’s family,” stated the mayor. “We will always appreciate and remember Aubrey’s generosity and civic pride in our community–from his support of countless local charities to the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of OKC to the arts.”
Thunder fans saw McClendon courtside last weekend when the Thunder’s game against the Golden State Warriors became one of the top-watched NBA games in recent years.
“His philanthropic investments in local schools and universities, the Boathouse District and throughout our city consistently raised the standards of what Oklahoma City could be. His love and support of his community will loom large for decades to come,” added Mayor Cornett.
Mike Terry, President of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association called McClendon a “groundbreaking pioneer and true champion of Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry.”
He said he was an extraordinary individual and business, admired and treasured by his peers, colleagues and employees.
“His steadfast dedication to this industry, Oklahoma and his hometown of Oklahoma City helped usher in a new era of oil and natural gas exploration in the Sooner State and across the nation,” added Terry. “By focusing on unconvention resource reservoirs and the use of horizontal drilling, Aubrey helped put in motion our nation’s push toward energy independence, and his use of these unconventional techniques in the development of natural gas was copied by oil and natural gas producers across the nation.”
