Bruce Black

Rear Admiral Bruce Allen Black, USN (ret.), a long-time resident of Farmington, New Mexico received permanent change of duty orders from God on July 8, 2025 at 10:45am.

Bruce was born August 20, 1936 in Albuquerque, N. M. to Ruth and Harmon Black. Raised in Albuquerque, Bruce graduated from Highland High in 1954, and joined the Naval Reserve as a Seaman Recruit in January 1955. He attended the University of New Mexico one year, but was offered a football scholarship by Texas Western College (now UTEP), and transferred to TWC in 1956. Upon graduation with a Bachelor's Degree in Geology he attended Naval Officers Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign (a mustang) in the United States Navy in July 1959. The same month he married the love of his life, the former Marjorie Manget Watkins ("The only woman I ever saw who stopped me in my tracks!"). He spent four years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as the Air Intelligence Officer for VP 50 (Seaplane Squadron) in Iwakuni, Japan and later as a Naval Intelligence Instructor at the Pacific Fleet Air Intelligence School in California. After active duty, Bruce remained in the Naval Reserve and he and Margie with their young son returned to Albuquerque where he worked nights on a gas station and attended graduate school in the day time at the University of New Mexico. He received his Master's Degree in Geology in 1964 and joined Shell Oil Company in Ventura, California. He became a Senior Staff Geologist and the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Shell Oil in the Pacific Coast Area. Bruce and his family were transferred to Farmington in 1969 where he initiated Shell's Albuquerque Basin Play in the Rio Grande Rift. While working full time for Shell he worked week ends and evening on his Doctorate at UNM. Bruce left Shell in 1970 to start his own company, Colorado Plateau Geological Services with his partner Mark Weidler. He received his PhD in Geology from UNM in 1974 and formed his own company Black Oil, Inc., and operated as an independent consulting geologist specializing in frontier exploration. Through the years Bruce remained actively engaged in the Navy, serving on both active and reserve duty for over 41 years. During those dual career years, he was the Commanding Officer of several Naval Reserve Intelligence Units across the country and was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1994. He received his second star (08), and served as the Commander of the Naval Reserve Intelligence Command for the United States from 1992 to his final retirement from the Navy in 1996. Bruce's numerous military medals included the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, National Defense medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three-hour glasses.

After retirement from the Navy, Bruce continued his geologic consulting career. In his "spare time" he conceived, and with the help of his son finished building Kokopelli's Cave. This unique B&B was recognized by National Geographic's Magazine as the one of the ten most unusual accommodations in the world (and the only one named in the US). Under his and his son's management Kokopelli's Cave has become a nationally and internationally known and recognized Continental Bed and Breakfast in Farmington, New Mexico. Bruce was most recently the President of Black Exploration LLC, leasing and actively exploring 64,000 acres on the Zia Pueblo, and other lands in the Rio Grande rift. Bruce drilled, found and produced the first oil sold out of the Rio Grande Rift in 1985. He actively pursued exploration in the rift for over 50 years.

Bruce served on the Board of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History during its initial establishment in Albuquerque. He also served as the President of the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. In Farmington he co-founded the San Juan Citizens Against Drug Abuse in the early 1970's and found time to serve on the Board of San Juan Regional Medical Center for three years. Bruce was proudest first of his family, second of his service to his Country and New Mexico, and third to his years of effort exploring and helping to open the Rio Grande rift as a new oil and gas-producing province. Bruce loved private flying, our mountains and hunting, fishing and exploring, and with help built his own 7/8 scale Spitfire replica aircraft.

In addition to his parents Bruce was preceded in death by his brother James H. Black and wife Eleanor Black. He is survived by his beloved wife Marjorie, his son Bruce H. Black, Daughter Leigh Irvin (husband Joel) and his beautiful grandchildren, Ashleigh and Marilei Black and Alice and Tasha Irvin, as well as his brand new Great Granddaughter Ruth Iris Gomez.

A celebration of his life "well lived" will be held at a later date.

Contributions may be made to the New Mexico Right to Life Foundation, the Wounded Warriors Project, The San Juan College Foundation or the charity of your choice.