Posted on 03/03/2016 8:19:56 AM PST by gwjack
About 90 days into my tenure at Chesapeake Energy Corporation, I had the opportunity to join 30 or so of my colleagues for an intimate, no-holds-barred Q&A with our CEO, Aubrey K. McClendon. Aubrey Orientation, as it was called, had been a tradition at Chesapeake for many years. The company had grown rapidly during the shale boom of the mid-aughts, boasting an eleven-digit market cap and a workforce of more than 10,000 people by the time I joined. Aubrey wanted to meet every one of them.
(Excerpt) Read more at medium.com ...
What kind of vehicle was he driving? Was it hacked and steered into the concrete or did he just decide to end it all himself?
RIP, AKM
This morning, I have seen three possibilities spoken of about what happened.
1) He didn’t want to face prison and committed suicide.
2) He was murdered by other rich people who didn’t want his testimony in court about their activities to get out.
3) He fell asleep at the wheel and it was an honest-to-goodness tragic accident.
Take your pick or add to the list.
They are still investigating. Forecast that because of the death it will be 1-2 weeks. I heard on television today that they have moved from a health situation occurring prior, to a potential suicide. Seat belt was not in use. He was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. It was a company car, as was his bent to eschew high dollar vehicles for personal use. I’m thinking that the unit was equipped with compressed natural gas for fuel since there was quite a fire that cremated the driver. They have released 911 calls at http://newsok.com/911-calls-about-aubrey-mcclendon-crash-describe-fiery-scene/article/5482574
I remember reading about him in The Frackers.
That was a great book, btw.
Hi hoagy62,
I think the article dispels suicide as a result of prison prospects. He was not a quitter. But, I also realize that the federal indictment may have been a straw that pushed the needle. We never know what is going on inside someone’s personal life struggle. I saw him from a distance at the Golden State v. Oklahoma Ciy game on Sunday afternoon. It was the first game he’d been to in about a month. That is remarkable because since 2008 he had been at every home game, in his usual seat, with two exceptions. He was loyal to the team.
I find it interesting that it occurred about 9:15 am on an isolated road in Eastern Oklahoma City. You would think that he would have been well rested.
Oh, the statute he was charged under, the Sherman Act, has never been used for activities he is alleged to have committed. That doesn’t make it right, but it is interesting to note.
I just heard on local television that they are now focusing on it as a suicide investigation. Perhaps it was the indictment (I personally don’t think so), but may have been other factors unknown at this time.
He was going broke. AEP is trading in junk-bond territory.
It seems obvious this man committed suicide. If that’s the case, I’m not interested in reading about what a devoted husband and father he was. People who kill themselves are selfish. I’ll get flamed for asserting this, but I am tried of hearing and reading praise of people who commit suicide. If you kill yourself, your last act on earth was to commit murder. When I was a kid, an adult told me that people who commit suicide — if they are sane when they do so — go to Hell. I believe that is one of the reasons I have never considered and never would consider killing myself. I’ll be accused of lacking compassion, but it is because I don’t want people to believe suicide is an option that I take a hard line on this. Being compassionate towards people who are already dead is a waste if said compassion sends a dangerous message to those who are still alive, but who may consider killing themselves eventually.
Actually Aubrey was NOT going broke. His billions are safely protected.
Where is American traded “... In junk bond territory?”
Even if it is, the company has weathered the worst of the natural gas decline - it has a different curve that crude oil.
My information, which can be corrected with solid data, is that AELP has industry partners in several fields, and one non-public traded Limited Partnership.
Looked like a 3 year old Chevy.
Not exactly a “captain of industry” ride.
Must have been the nanny’s car or something.
Hi utahagen,
Please withhold judgment until the medical examiner completes the report.
Regardless of your views, which are valid for you, Aubrey restored and saved the economy of Oklahoma and the Southwest part of the United States with his real out commitment to fracking. He developed something that others had overlooked for years because conventional wisdom was against them - kind of like questioning the earth is flat.
If it is determined to be suicide, I’ll write more about the legion others that committed suicide, and their enriching the lives of others.
Gwjack
I asked the same question of an employee of AELP. I was told that Aubrey was driving a company vehicle, and he didn’t drive the newest, latest, greatest because he wanted to be a man of the people. My understanding is that he would regularly get any fleet vehicle from the company lot. He didn’t think himself better than his employees.
Thanks, my FRiend. Yes, I will be saddened and disappointed if he did it to himself.
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I do find it weird that the body was identified so quick, since it was cremated in the fire. I’m sure it was circumstantial identification. I’ve wondered (tin foil hat on) if he is in climes far South and the body was someone else’s. Stranger things have happened.
Thank you for your civility.
Gwjack
A rare trait these days.
Very sad this happened.
I'll stay with $2 gasoline, thank you.
ping
Aubrey was an original shyster as he engaged legendary numbers of dealmakers to sew up vast areas virtually devoid of cost.
His game was not to ‘find’ oil or gas at all; it was to ‘tie it up’.
In no manner, shape or form could be possibly be compared to the real wildcatters of the industry, people like H.L. Hunt, Roy Cullen or Michael Halbouty.
His ignominious end is a tragedy, as it appears his deals in life may have caught up with him, and he couldn’t handle it.
There could be variants of #3.... dropped something in the car and was picking it up, a deer ran out in front of him, etc etc etc. But, ya gotta look at the simplest explanation, first. Boring as that is.
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