Former US Senator Jim Inhofe dies at 89

Former Senator Jim Inhofe, a staunch conservative known for his support of defense spending and skepticism about human-caused climate change, has passed away at the age of 89.

Inhofe died on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, after suffering a stroke during the July Fourth holiday, his family announced.

Inhofe was a dominant figure in Oklahoma politics for over six decades. Despite undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2013, he continued his political career, being elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 before stepping down in early 2023.

A vocal critic of mainstream climate science, Inhofe once called the idea that human activity drives climate change “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”

As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he ardently supported the state’s military installations and advocated for congressional earmarks. An Army veteran and licensed pilot, Inhofe often flew himself to Washington and secured federal funding for local infrastructure projects.

Inhofe was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who praised him for his dedication to the “MAGA agenda.” During the Trump administration, Inhofe chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee following Senator John McCain’s death.

In Oklahoma, Inhofe played a key role in securing millions of dollars to clean up the Tar Creek Superfund site, a former mining area plagued by lead contamination.

He was known for his advocacy for veterans and his belief in the “American Dream,” as highlighted by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who ordered flags on state property to fly at half-staff in Inhofe’s honor.

Born James Mountain Inhofe on November 17, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, Inhofe grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tulsa in 1959 and served in the Army from 1956 to 1958.

Before his political career, he worked as a businessman for three decades.

Inhofe is survived by his wife, Kay, three children, and several grandchildren. His son, Dr. Perry Dyson Inhofe II, died in a plane crash in November 2013.