Peyton Yates, Jr.
Peyton Yates, Jr. was born and reared in Artesia, New Mexico. He graduated from Artesia High School in 1959 and attended The University of Texas at Austin, receiving a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering in 1965 and a master’s of science in petroleum engineering in 1966.
After completing his master’s degree, Yates served two years in the U.S. Army with a tour in Vietnam. He achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. Following his military service, Yates worked for Chevron Oil Company in Vernal, Utah as a Petroleum Engineer. He then joined his family’s business in Artesia in 1970. For nearly 40 years, Yates worked as a key executive in family businesses. He currently serves as President of Santo Petroleum in Artesia, New Mexico.
Yate's civic involvement includes serving as past president of the New Mexico Academy of Science. He was the first President of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico. He has also served as member of the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Advisory Board at The University of Texas at Austin. He was recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering in 2003.
Because of his passion to help educate New Mexico’s residents, Yates was honored as the first “Executive in Residence” with New Mexico State University’s College of Business. Yates is a past President of Artesia Main Street. He currently serves on the Boy Scouts of America Conquistador Council Trust Committee, and he has attained the rankings of Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver in the Boys Scouts of America.
