Former United States Senator from Oklahoma Jim Inhofe died Tuesday at the age of 89.
Inhofe was born in Iowa but grew up in Tulsa, attending Central High School and the University of Tulsa. Before his time in the Senate, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 -94 and was the mayor of Tulsa from 1978--84. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, he was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s.
Inhofe also worked in aviation, real estate, and insurance; he was president of Quaker Life Insurance Company before entering politics.
Inhofe served as a United States senator from Oklahoma from 1994- 2023. He is the longest-serving U.S. senator from Oklahoma.
His family released the following statement after his death, United States Senator James M. Inhofe passed away at 4:48 a.m. July 9 after a stroke over the holiday.
He passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife Kay, and his three surviving children, Molly, Jimmy and Katy. His son Perry passed away several years ago in a private airplane accident in Tulsa.
The family is very grateful for the extraordinary care staff and doctors of the 7th floor NeuroTrauma Intensive Care Unit of St. John's Hospital in Tulsa.
The lifelong aviator once flew a small plane around the world and passed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights.
Remembrances and messages of sympathy poured in from around the state and the nation.
Brook Simmons of the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma said, “Senator Inhofe fiercely defended the United States from awful policies cloaked in thoughtless, good intentions. He was a staunch conservative who tirelessly worked to improve America’s energy security and national defense, and America’s detractors at home and abroad hated him for it. He wore their scorn as a badge of honor. When climate activists printed wanted posters featuring his image for COP 21 in Paris, he proudly autographed them and handed them back to protestors. America needs more like him.”
Speaker of the Oklahoma House, Charles McCall of Atoka said, “'Sen. Jim Inhofe was someone who truly lived up to his middle name of Mountain. A giant in Oklahoma and American politics, his steadfast leadership helped shape the course of our state and nation for decades. His contributions to our nation's military and aviation infrastructure will benefit our country for generations to come, and his commitment to his conservative values was unwavering. There are few who have served in the U.S. Senate who were as well-respected and revered as Sen. Inhofe, and we truly will not see not see his like again. My condolences go out to his family during this extremely difficult time.'
Oklahoma District 3 Representative Frank Lucas wrote 'Today, Oklahoma and the entire country mourn the loss of Senator Jim Inhofe.
'The true embodiment of a public servant, Jim spent five decades faithfully serving the people of Oklahoma with the utmost integrity and purpose. His calling to do so began in the Oklahoma Legislature and later as the mayor of Tulsa, where he proved to be a selfless steward of his community.
'His long career in the United States House and Senate serves as a testament to his strong moral compass and innate desire to better his home state. From being a larger- than-life advocate for Oklahoma’s military installations to improving infrastructure across the state, Jim Inhofe has made an impact on Oklahomans that will be felt for generations.
'Watching and learning under his leadership has only strengthened my sense of duty, and I have always used his character as a guidepost in my endeavors. Lynda and I join Oklahomans everywhere in mourning this great loss and praying for his family.'
And U.S. Senator for Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin wrote “It's fitting that Senator Jim Inhofe's middle name was Mountain -- because that's exactly what he was, not just for our state, but for the nation. Senator Inhofe's tenacity and enduring love for Oklahoma made him a titan in the Senate. He was a tireless advocate, and a wonderful friend, father, husband, and grandfather. While I will never be able to fill his shoes, Jim's spirit, passion, and love of country will continue to inspire me each and every day. Our prayers are with Kay, his former staff, and the entire Inhofe family.”