Chet Upham
Encyclopedia
Chester Robert Upham, Jr., known as Chet Upham (May 19, 1925–January 24, 2008), was an oil
and natural gas
business
man from Mineral Wells
, Texas
, who served as the chairman of the Texas Republican Party from 1979–1983, corresponding with the first gubernatorial administration of his friend, William P. "Bill" Clements, Jr.
Upham was a delegate to every Texas state Republican convention from 1960–1994 and to the national conventions of 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1992. He was a member of the Business Council organized by current Governor
Rick Perry
.
to work on a drilling rig at a time when there were only three such structures in the world. David Upham soon owned and operated what became the fifth rig in existence. Upham Oil and Gas originated in 1914, when David Upham heard about the emerging field in Ranger
, located between Fort Worth
and Abilene
, Texas. In 1917, the senior Upham drilled his first natural gas well in Palo Pinto County
. A few years later, David Upham's son, Chester R. Upham, Sr., came to Mineral Wells, the seat of Palo Pinto County, and two men purchased the Consumer's Gas and Fuel Company, a natural gas operation. In 1925, the company extended service to rural communities within Palo Pinto County. In 1926, the company was renamed the Brazos River
Gas Company, which served fifteen communities. In 1950, the name was again changed to Upham Gas Company.
Chet Upham was born in Mineral Wells but moved with his parents, Chester and Ida Irene Upham, to southern California
. He spent his teenage years in Beverly Hills
and graduated from University High School in Los Angeles
, where as a youth he met numerous actor
s. Before he returned to Mineral Wells to launch the new oil and gas company, Upham, Sr., had operated a neon sign
business in California, when such operations were new. Upham, Jr., attended one semester at the University of California at Los Angeles before he dropped out to join the United States Navy
during World War II
. Commissioned an ensign
, he served from 1943–1946, with eight months at sea, having been released thereafter to the United States Naval Reserve. His graduated in 1945 from the University of Texas at Austin
, where he procured his Bachelor of Science
in mechanical engineering
after three and one-half years. He was a member of the swimming
team and Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity
.
In 1956, Upham launched Upham Oil & Gas Company, an exploration and production company still in operation. In January 1977, Chester Upham, III, known as Robert Upham, joined the company and became its operations manager. The firm maintains wells in Palo Pinto, Parker
, Jack
, and Wise
counties and natural gas processing plants in the nearby communities of Chico
and Strawn
, Texas.
Upham was a past president of the interest group, the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owner’s Association, the recipient of the 1990 Chief Roughneck Award, and a member and director of the North Texas Oil and Gas Association. He was formerly a member of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission and the Natural Resources Petroleum Council. He was a founding director of Palo Pinto Municipal Water District No. 1 and the Palo Pinto Area Foundation. He was also a director of the Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce
. He was a former member and director of the conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation
. He was co-owner of Upham Development Company, a commercial real estate
business, in California. He was also a director of City National Bank in Mineral Wells and a former regent of the University of Texas.
Active in aviation
, Upham flew his own plane until his health made that impossible. He then hired a pilot to transport him around the country. On December 16, 1946, Upham wed the former Virginia Frances Lee, who was born on February 24, 1924, in Phoenix
, Arizona
. She was a stewardess for American Airlines
prior to their marriage. Upham used his background in engineering and oilfield compressor technology to introduce the first artificial "snow-making" to Colorado
in 1984, a system now used by almost all major ski areas. His resort, Loveland Ski Area
, is still independently-owned by his family and operated by his widow. Loveland "consistently has the best 'snow' conditions in Colorado," the family maintains. Upham and Loveland general manager Otto Werlin (1926–2008), conceived the idea of artificial snow from observing the pumps and compressors being used to dig the nearby Eisenhower Tunnel
, built between 1968 and 1973 on Interstate 70
under the Continental Divide
.
of Pasadena
resigned to join the Clements administration as one of the then three members of the Texas Transportation Commission. During the Clements first term, Upham worked closely with the administration, but Republican growth remained slow even with the statewide victory of Ronald W. Reagan in Texas in 1980. In 1983, blamed for poor Republican election showings, Upham was replaced as GOP
chairman by Houston
oil
man and philanthropist
George W. Strake, Jr.
, who had been the unsuccessful nominee for lieutenant governor
in 1982 on Clements's failed reelection ticket. Strake lost to Democratic
incumbent
Bill Hobby, also of Houston, whom he attempted to brand in the campaign as a "liberal." Texas Monthly
magazine
later reflected that "squabbling and demoralized Republicans turned on" Upham mistakenly as "a postelection scapegoat."
Upham was an admirer of Ronald Reagan, whom he described as a man of principles who did not waver in his beliefs: "The thing about Ronald Reagan so many of us were so very, very proud of is that he didn’t worry about the polls," Upham told the Mineral Wells Index newspaper
. He claimed in a 1983 interview with The Washington Post
that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
, who was unseated by Reagan in 1980, "pushed" the Texas oil and gas industry "into the Republican Party. There's no question about it. The principles of the Republican Party are more akin to the things that oil and gas people are seeking."
Even as his chairmanship ended, Upham continued to work to nominate and elect various Republican candidates over the years, including Ed Hargett, a former football
star, who failed in a 1985 special election for the United States House of Representatives
from East Texas. In 2002, Upham and later GOP state chairman Thomas Pauken
worked to nominate former State Representative Kenn George
of Dallas County
, who lost the primary for Texas land commissioner to the current holder of the office, then State Senator
Jerry E. Patterson of Harris County
.
State Representative
Jim Keffer from House District 60 said that Upham "shepherded Texas into a vibrant two-party system, giving many Texans a voice in government for the first time." State Senator Craig Estes
of Wichita Falls
, representing District 30
, likewise called Upham "a legendary pioneer in helping to grow the Republican Party of Texas."
of Mineral Wells, where Upham was a member. He is interred at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells.
Mineral Wells Mayor
Clarence Holliman, who left office on May 20, 2008, described Upham, accordingly: "He was a giant among men that always kept an humble spirit and that was just who he was . . . a tremendous support system for me with his wisdom, with needed resources or just somebody that you could sit down and enjoy a conversation with. I count it a privilege and a blessing to be counted among his friends." When asked what one word could describe Upham, Holliman replied, "'Real' in every sense of the word, because no matter who you were, Mr. Upham was always Mr. Upham. … Whether it was someone he worked with or just met, he was always the same."
Upham donated in 2007 to U.S. Senator John McCain
's presidential campaign. His son was an active donor to the successful reelection of Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn
of Texas in 2008.
On May 19, 2008, the first "Chet Upham Day" was posthumously proclaimed on his birthday in Mineral Wells. U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry
of Clarendon
sent a statement to the event: "In business, [Upham] left an indelible mark on the oil and gas industry, contributing greatly to the economy and job base of Palo Pinto County. . . . Today, Chet is being honored for the many contributions and lasting achievements, not only in the state and area, but in the hearts of so many people … All who have benefited from his efforts have been blessed as we have experienced the epitome of excellence, leadership and character."Gayle Gilmore of the staff of State Representative Jim Keffer said that Upham "was a Republican when it wasn't cool to be a Republican."
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man from Mineral Wells
Mineral Wells, Texas
Mineral Wells is a city in Palo Pinto and Parker counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 16,946 at the 2000 census. The city is named for mineral springs in the area, which were highly popular in the early 1900s...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, who served as the chairman of the Texas Republican Party from 1979–1983, corresponding with the first gubernatorial administration of his friend, William P. "Bill" Clements, Jr.
Bill Clements
William Perry "Bill" Clements, Jr. was the 42nd and 44th Governor of Texas, serving from 1979 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991. Clements was the first Republican to have served as governor of the U.S. state of Texas since Reconstruction...
Upham was a delegate to every Texas state Republican convention from 1960–1994 and to the national conventions of 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1992. He was a member of the Business Council organized by current Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
.
Family background and early years
Prior to 1900, Upham's grandfather, David A. Upham, came to Texas from PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to work on a drilling rig at a time when there were only three such structures in the world. David Upham soon owned and operated what became the fifth rig in existence. Upham Oil and Gas originated in 1914, when David Upham heard about the emerging field in Ranger
Ranger, Texas
Ranger is a city in Eastland County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,584 at the 2000 census. Ranger College, a community college, is the second largest employer in the community....
, located between Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
and Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, Texas. In 1917, the senior Upham drilled his first natural gas well in Palo Pinto County
Palo Pinto County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,026 people, 10,594 households, and 7,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 14,102 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
. A few years later, David Upham's son, Chester R. Upham, Sr., came to Mineral Wells, the seat of Palo Pinto County, and two men purchased the Consumer's Gas and Fuel Company, a natural gas operation. In 1925, the company extended service to rural communities within Palo Pinto County. In 1926, the company was renamed the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
Gas Company, which served fifteen communities. In 1950, the name was again changed to Upham Gas Company.
Chet Upham was born in Mineral Wells but moved with his parents, Chester and Ida Irene Upham, to southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He spent his teenage years in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
and graduated from University High School in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where as a youth he met numerous actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s. Before he returned to Mineral Wells to launch the new oil and gas company, Upham, Sr., had operated a neon sign
Neon sign
Neon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
business in California, when such operations were new. Upham, Jr., attended one semester at the University of California at Los Angeles before he dropped out to join the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Commissioned an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
, he served from 1943–1946, with eight months at sea, having been released thereafter to the United States Naval Reserve. His graduated in 1945 from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he procured his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
after three and one-half years. He was a member of the swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
team and Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
.
Business success
After the war, Upham lived briefly with his parents at the landmark Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells. In 1947, he joined his father in the management of Upham Gas Company. After his father's death in 1956, Upham Gas Company was sold and became Southwest Gas, which also handled the distribution system for the city of Mineral Wells. According to Chet Upham's family, some of the first wells that Upham drilled were still in production at the time of his death in 2008.In 1956, Upham launched Upham Oil & Gas Company, an exploration and production company still in operation. In January 1977, Chester Upham, III, known as Robert Upham, joined the company and became its operations manager. The firm maintains wells in Palo Pinto, Parker
Parker County, Texas
As of the census of 2003, there were 98,495 people, 31,131 households, and 24,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 34,084 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, Jack
Jack County, Texas
*Bryson*Jacksboro*Jermyn *Joplin *Perrin *Gibtown-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Jack County, Texas-External links:*...
, and Wise
Wise County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 19,242 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
counties and natural gas processing plants in the nearby communities of Chico
Chico, Texas
Chico is a city in Wise County, Texas, United States. The population was 947 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chico is located at ....
and Strawn
Strawn, Texas
Strawn is a city in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The population was 739 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Strawn is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Texas.
Upham was a past president of the interest group, the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owner’s Association, the recipient of the 1990 Chief Roughneck Award, and a member and director of the North Texas Oil and Gas Association. He was formerly a member of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission and the Natural Resources Petroleum Council. He was a founding director of Palo Pinto Municipal Water District No. 1 and the Palo Pinto Area Foundation. He was also a director of the Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. He was a former member and director of the conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation
Mountain States Legal Foundation
Mountain States Legal Foundation is a nonprofit, public-interest law firm dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and ethical government, and economic freedom...
. He was co-owner of Upham Development Company, a commercial real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business, in California. He was also a director of City National Bank in Mineral Wells and a former regent of the University of Texas.
Active in aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, Upham flew his own plane until his health made that impossible. He then hired a pilot to transport him around the country. On December 16, 1946, Upham wed the former Virginia Frances Lee, who was born on February 24, 1924, in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. She was a stewardess for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
prior to their marriage. Upham used his background in engineering and oilfield compressor technology to introduce the first artificial "snow-making" to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1984, a system now used by almost all major ski areas. His resort, Loveland Ski Area
Loveland Ski Area
The Loveland Ski Area is located near the town of Georgetown, Colorado. The area is one of the closest to the Denver metropolitan area and Front Range corridor, making it popular with locals...
, is still independently-owned by his family and operated by his widow. Loveland "consistently has the best 'snow' conditions in Colorado," the family maintains. Upham and Loveland general manager Otto Werlin (1926–2008), conceived the idea of artificial snow from observing the pumps and compressors being used to dig the nearby Eisenhower Tunnel
Eisenhower Tunnel
The Eisenhower Tunnel, officially the Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel, is a dual-bore, four-lane vehicular tunnel approximately west of Denver, Colorado, United States. The tunnel carries Interstate 70 under the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. With a maximum elevation of above sea...
, built between 1968 and 1973 on Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
under the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
.
Political matters
Upham was named Texas Republican chairman in 1979, when Ray BarnhartRay Barnhart
Ray Anderson Barnhart is a retired businessman and Republican politician, formerly from Pasadena in Harris County, Texas.From 1981–1987, Barnhart was director of the Federal Highway Administration under U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan...
of Pasadena
Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Harris County, 17th-largest in Texas, and 162nd largest in the United States. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston....
resigned to join the Clements administration as one of the then three members of the Texas Transportation Commission. During the Clements first term, Upham worked closely with the administration, but Republican growth remained slow even with the statewide victory of Ronald W. Reagan in Texas in 1980. In 1983, blamed for poor Republican election showings, Upham was replaced as GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
chairman by Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
man and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
George W. Strake, Jr.
George Strake, Jr.
George William Strake, Jr. , is a Houston, Texas, businessman and philanthropist who served as Texas secretary of state from January 16, 1979–October 6, 1981, during the administration of Republican Governor William Perry Clements, Jr...
, who had been the unsuccessful nominee for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
in 1982 on Clements's failed reelection ticket. Strake lost to Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Bill Hobby, also of Houston, whom he attempted to brand in the campaign as a "liberal." Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
later reflected that "squabbling and demoralized Republicans turned on" Upham mistakenly as "a postelection scapegoat."
Upham was an admirer of Ronald Reagan, whom he described as a man of principles who did not waver in his beliefs: "The thing about Ronald Reagan so many of us were so very, very proud of is that he didn’t worry about the polls," Upham told the Mineral Wells Index newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. He claimed in a 1983 interview with The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, who was unseated by Reagan in 1980, "pushed" the Texas oil and gas industry "into the Republican Party. There's no question about it. The principles of the Republican Party are more akin to the things that oil and gas people are seeking."
Even as his chairmanship ended, Upham continued to work to nominate and elect various Republican candidates over the years, including Ed Hargett, a former football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
star, who failed in a 1985 special election for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from East Texas. In 2002, Upham and later GOP state chairman Thomas Pauken
Thomas Pauken
Thomas Weir Pauken is a Dallas, Texas, lawyer and author who served as chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 1994–1997 during the transition period when the party leaped from minority to majority status in the state. A staunch conservative, Pauken lost two tight races for U.S...
worked to nominate former State Representative Kenn George
Kenn George
Kenneth S. George, known as Kenn George , is a self-employed businessman in Dallas, Texas, who served from 1999-2003 as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 108, which covers the heart of Dallas County. He left the legislature in an unsuccessful bid for Texas land...
of Dallas County
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
, who lost the primary for Texas land commissioner to the current holder of the office, then State Senator
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
Jerry E. Patterson of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
.
State Representative
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
Jim Keffer from House District 60 said that Upham "shepherded Texas into a vibrant two-party system, giving many Texans a voice in government for the first time." State Senator Craig Estes
Craig Estes
Craig Linton Estes is a Republican member of the Texas Senate representing the 30th District.-2004:-2002:-2001:-External links:* official TX Senate website* official website* profile...
of Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
, representing District 30
Texas Senate, District 30
District 30 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves all of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Grayson, Jack, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise and Young counties, and portions of Collin and Denton counties in the U.S....
, likewise called Upham "a legendary pioneer in helping to grow the Republican Party of Texas."
Death and legacy
After a five-year struggle with bone cancer, Upham died in the Palo Pinto General Hospital in Mineral Wells. In addition to his wife, he was survived by daughters, Barbara Lee Upham, formerly Barbara Kemp, and Dr. Mary Kathleen Upham, and son, Chester Robert Upham, III, and his wife, Lori. A second son, Richard Lee Upham, preceded his father in death. He had five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. Services were held in the First Christian ChurchChristian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
of Mineral Wells, where Upham was a member. He is interred at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells.
Mineral Wells Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Clarence Holliman, who left office on May 20, 2008, described Upham, accordingly: "He was a giant among men that always kept an humble spirit and that was just who he was . . . a tremendous support system for me with his wisdom, with needed resources or just somebody that you could sit down and enjoy a conversation with. I count it a privilege and a blessing to be counted among his friends." When asked what one word could describe Upham, Holliman replied, "'Real' in every sense of the word, because no matter who you were, Mr. Upham was always Mr. Upham. … Whether it was someone he worked with or just met, he was always the same."
Upham donated in 2007 to U.S. Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
's presidential campaign. His son was an active donor to the successful reelection of Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
of Texas in 2008.
On May 19, 2008, the first "Chet Upham Day" was posthumously proclaimed on his birthday in Mineral Wells. U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry
Mac Thornberry
William McClellan "Mac" Thornberry is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party....
of Clarendon
Clarendon, Texas
Clarendon is a city in Donley County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,974 at the 2000 census. The county seat of Donley County, Clarendon is located on United States Highway 287 in the Texas Panhandle some sixty miles east of Amarillo. It was established in 1878 by Methodist clergyman L.H...
sent a statement to the event: "In business, [Upham] left an indelible mark on the oil and gas industry, contributing greatly to the economy and job base of Palo Pinto County. . . . Today, Chet is being honored for the many contributions and lasting achievements, not only in the state and area, but in the hearts of so many people … All who have benefited from his efforts have been blessed as we have experienced the epitome of excellence, leadership and character."Gayle Gilmore of the staff of State Representative Jim Keffer said that Upham "was a Republican when it wasn't cool to be a Republican."