Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Military roots lead to Clovis

Duane Chase was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Like many other locals, he came a long way from home and ended up in Clovis via Cannon Air Force Base.

His father, Johnny Chase, joined the United States Air Force at age 18 and was stationed at Cannon. His mother, Lavon Tivis, and father met in the parking lot of Pat's Twin Cronnies in Portales. They married and were stationed back to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro.

His family was re-stationed at Cannon where his sister, Cheree Bilberry, was born. Chase and his family also were stationed in Mobile Alabama, Alamogordo and Satellite Beach, Florida, before returning to Clovis in 1975.

Chase graduated from Clovis High School in 1977. He played his sophomore and junior years on the golf team. He went to work at Safeway his senior year after school in 1976, then at Clovis National Bank in 1977 until 1979.

He married Lisa Smith of Clovis and began a nine-year job with Xcel Energy (then SPS). He has owned Pack N Mail Mailing Center since 1988 and Sir Logo since 1995.

Chase began broadcasting games in 2005. He has been in radio announcing games full-time and co-hosting Keefer Kountry on KCLV since 2014.

What do you like about your job?

Radio-wise I enjoy traveling around the state of New Mexico and West Texas and watching the kids perform from all the area teams and schools. I've gotten to meet many interesting and enjoyable people from coaches to school officials, players and player's parents, as well. Business wise I have always enjoyed the marketing and creative side of it.

What don't you like about your job?

Radio-wise might be the long hours and late nights and excessive travel. Business-wise would be the paperwork that is relentless and endless it seems.

What's your favorite TV show, past and present?

'F Troop' and 'Hogan's Heroes' (tied) and now it's 'Big Bang Theory.'

What's the best gift you've ever given?

Helping our three kids get their college educations.

What's so great about your favorite sport?

Golf I'd guess, and because I've played most of everything. Golf is, in my opinion, the most difficult to be good at. In part because it is 100 percent on you. No backup. No help. Also, the challenges of each course; all are different hole to hole and course to course, unlike other sports where the courts or fields are pretty much exactly the same.

What fantasy/mythological creature would you have as a pet?

Gary, the snail, of 'Spongebob SquarePants.'

Tell us about your greatest individual accomplishment?

Finding a wife who helped raise three wonderful kids. I couldn't be more proud of that.

Who's invited to your fantasy dinner party and why?

Gary Larson, creator of 'The Far Side,' just because I think it would be a blast.

Make up your own question and answer it - If I could go back in time and redo anything what would it be?

I wish I had listened to my drafting teacher, Lonnie Leslie, and my woods teacher, Ken Wilkins, to attend college after high school in architecture or starting a construction business. Since I didn't do either of those, I wish I would have taken advantage of the offers given at Clovis National Bank and SPS to go to college and get a degree to move up in those businesses or companies

What do you envision your life being like in 10 years?

I hope it's less work hours and includes lots of travel, seeing my kids and golfing and fishing at a location on an island or coastal location.

— Compiled by Correspondent D'Nieka Hartsfield