EXHIBIT 99.1

            FORM OF ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY PROXY CARD

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PROXY               ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY                    PROXY

                     1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100
                            Denver, Colorado 80203

               This Proxy is Solicited by the Board of Directors
          For the Special Meeting of Stockholders on October 29, 1999

     The undersigned hereby appoints Mark A. Hellerstein and Richard C. Norris,
or either of them, with power of substitution, as proxies for the undersigned to
vote all shares of St. Mary Land & Exploration Company common stock which the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the special meeting of stockholders to be
held on October 29, 1999, and at any reconvened meeting after any adjournment
thereof, as directed on the matter referred to below and described in the
accompanying proxy statement for the meeting, and at their discretion on any
other matters that may properly be presented at the meeting.

     .    To approve the issuance of a total of 2,666,252 shares of St. Mary
          common stock under the merger agreement whereby St. Mary will acquire
          King Ranch Energy, Inc.

           FOR                    AGAINST                    ABSTAIN

           [ ]                      [ ]                        [ ]

          The St. Mary board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" approval of
          the issuance of a total of 2,666,252 shares of St. Mary common stock
          under the merger agreement.



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     This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by
the undersigned stockholder.

     If this proxy is properly executed but no voting direction is given, this
proxy will be voted "FOR" approval of the issuance of a total of 2,666,252
shares of St. Mary common stock under the merger agreement.

     This proxy also confers discretionary authority to the proxies to vote on
any other matters that may properly be presented at the meeting. As of the date
of the accompanying proxy statement, St. Mary management did not know of any
other matters to be presented at the meeting. If any other matters are properly
presented at the meeting, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the
recommendations of St. Mary management.

     Please sign exactly as your name appears below. When shares are held by
joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the president or other
authorized officer. If a partnership or limited liability company, please sign
in such name by an authorized person.

     Please complete, date and sign this proxy card and return it promptly in
the accompanying envelope.

                                   Dated: _____________________, 1999


                                   Signature: ___________________________


                                   Signature: ___________________________
                                                   (If held jointly)