Former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, a passionate advocate for Oklahoma, dies at 89 • Oklahoma Voice

Former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, an “iconic Oklahoman” and Republican recognized for his dedication to navy and infrastructure, died of a stroke Tuesday morning. He was 89.

Inhofe had a virtually six decade profession in Oklahoma politics, serving practically three a long time within the U.S. Senate. He additionally served within the U.S. Home of Representatives, the Oklahoma Home and Senate and as Tulsa mayor. He started his profession of public service in 1967.

He was the longest serving U.S. senator in state historical past. 

Gov. Kevin Stitt mentioned throughout a invoice signing ceremony on the Capitol on Tuesday that Inhofe was an “iconic Oklahoman.”

“He was within the U.S. Senate for nearly 30 years and was a very nice illustration of Oklahoma values, Oklahoma frequent sense,” Stitt mentioned. “So when you concentrate on a U.S. senator representing your state, you may take into consideration Jim Inhofe. 

“We really misplaced an amazing Oklahoma and an amazing American.” 

A U.S. Military veteran, Inhofe was a passionate pilot. He was a supporter of Oklahoma’s 5 navy installations and visited armed forces abroad yearly.

Donelle More durable, who labored as Inhofe’s U.S. Senate spokeswoman for about 5 years, mentioned Inhofe’s aviation expertise have been well-known within the workplace. It grew to become a ceremony of passage for his staffers to be invited to fly with him. 

He was additionally recognized to be fiercely loyal to Oklahoma and function with compassion, but in addition with unwavering conviction, More durable mentioned.  

“So even when somebody wished to drag him in a special route nationally, on nationwide levels, for nationwide management functions, if it didn’t have a dotted line again to Oklahoma, he simply wasn’t going to do it,” More durable mentioned.

More durable mentioned Inhofe made it a behavior to reach in D.C. simply earlier than Monday’s first vote and depart on the primary flight out Thursday in order that he may see his household and go to with Oklahomans throughout the state every weekend.

Inhofe held sturdy beliefs about local weather change, denying its existence and calling it “the best hoax ever perpetrated on the American individuals.” He introduced a snowball onto the Senate ground in February 2015, claiming environmentalists had it unsuitable, and the snowball was proof. 

“I feel regardless of, you realize, perhaps among the polarized tales on the market about Jim Inhofe, I consider historical past goes to recollect him very fondly,” More durable mentioned. “We’re seeing fewer Jim Inhofes as we speak in each events, by which they know methods to function with conviction, and but discover locations of frequent floor the place they’ll get stuff executed for the individuals.”

She mentioned Inhofe was a person of religion and shared Jesus with others usually.

State Home Democratic Chief Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma Metropolis, mentioned in an announcement that Inhofe left a “lengthy lasting affect” on Oklahoma and served the nation in a couple of means. 

“My condolences exit to the household and pals of Senator Jim Inhofe,” Munson mentioned. “He was a tenacious chief, state consultant, and United States senator who stood agency in his convictions.”

In a publish on X, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum mentioned Inhofe was one of many metropolis’s “most achieved mayors.” Inhofe established Tulsa’s 911 name system, created the primary metropolis gross sales tax for infrastructure, modernized its trash system and created its Sister Cities program throughout his tenure.

Inhofe was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2020 to the U.S. Senate, however later introduced he would retire in January 2023. 

Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford, who served alongside Inhofe, mentioned in an announcement that Inhofe was a “true legend and a pressure to be reckoned with.” 

“We grieve together with our state and nation the lack of a real patriot for our American values and lifestyle,” he mentioned. “Jim was an establishment within the Senate. He saved his relationship with Jesus, his household, and all Oklahomans as his precedence. His ardour for our navy, aviation, vitality, infrastructure, Africa, and our private freedom was important for our state and our nation.”Inhofe leaves behind his spouse, Kay, and their three youngsters. He’s preceded in loss of life by his son, Dr. Perry Dyson Inhofe II.

This story was up to date Tuesday at 2:19 p.m.