A search continued Friday in New Mexico for former White House Chef Walter Scheib, who was reported missing in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Scheib, 61, was White House chef for 11 years under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He also has been actively involved in Atlanta’s City of Refuge, which provides services to homeless and abused residents.
Scheib was last seen setting out on a hike last weekend, according to police and media reports. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, near the Taos Ski Valley, are in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, and are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains.
According to reports, Scheib recently moved to Taos, N.M., from Florida. Police found his vehicle parked at the Yerba Canyon Trail Head in Taos.
The chef has worked with the City of Refuge shelter for more than three years and assumed the role of chief culinary officer in January as a contract employee, according Terry Tucker, chief strategy officer for the shelter.
City of Refuge, at 1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW, provides shelter to the homeless, treatment for substance and physical abuse, mental health services, tutoring for kids, clean clothing and meals. It’s 180 Degree Kitchen offers job training and helps generate funds through a catering service.
Tucker told Channel 2 Action News that Scheib taught the culinary students at the shelter, headlined events and collaborated to open a fine dining Bistro on City of Refuge’s campus.
“We are overwhelmed with grief of the news,” Tucker said. “He was also a dear friend.”
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