Former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, a passionate advocate for Oklahoma ...

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

Inhofe had a nearly six decade career in Oklahoma politics, serving nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Oklahoma House and Senate and as Tulsa mayor. He began his career of public service in 1967.

He was the longest serving U.S. senator in state history. 

Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a bill signing ceremony at the Capitol on Tuesday that Inhofe was an “iconic Oklahoman.”

“He was in the U.S. Senate for almost 30 years and was a really great representation of Oklahoma values, Oklahoma common sense,” Stitt said. “So when you think about a U.S. senator representing your state, you can think about Jim Inhofe. 

“We truly lost a great Oklahoma and a great American.” 

A U.S. Army veteran, Inhofe was a passionate pilot. He was a supporter of Oklahoma’s five military installations and visited armed forces overseas every year.

Donelle Harder, who worked as Inhofe’s U.S. Senate spokeswoman for about five years, said Inhofe’s aviation skills were well known in the office. It became a rite of passage for his staffers to be invited to fly with him. 

He was also known to be fiercely loyal to Oklahoma and operate with compassion, but also with unwavering conviction, Harder said.  

“So even if someone wanted to pull him in a different direction nationally, on national stages, for national leadership purposes, if it didn’t have a dotted line back to Oklahoma, he just wasn’t going to do it,” Harder said.

Harder said Inhofe made it a habit to arrive in D.C. just before Monday’s first vote and leave on the first flight out Thursday so that he could see his family and visit with Oklahomans across the state each weekend.

Inhofe held strong beliefs about climate change, denying its existence and calling it “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” He brought a snowball onto the Senate floor in February 2015, claiming environmentalists had it wrong, and the snowball was proof. 

“I think despite, you know, maybe some of the polarized stories out there about Jim Inhofe, I believe history is going to remember him very fondly,” Harder said. “We are seeing fewer Jim Inhofes today in both parties, in which they know how to operate with conviction, and yet find places of common ground where they can get stuff done for the people.”

She said Inhofe was a man of faith and shared Jesus with others often.

State House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said in a statement that Inhofe left a “long lasting impact” on Oklahoma and served the country in more than one way. 

“My condolences go out to the family and friends of Senator Jim Inhofe,” Munson said. “He was a tenacious leader, state representative, and United States senator who stood firm in his convictions.”

In a post on X, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said Inhofe was one of the city’s “most accomplished mayors.” Inhofe established Tulsa’s 911 call system, created the first city sales tax for infrastructure, modernized its trash system and created its Sister Cities program during his tenure.

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

Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford, who served alongside Inhofe, said in a statement that Inhofe was a “true legend and a force to be reckoned with.” 

“We grieve along with our state and nation the loss of a true patriot for our American values and way of life,” he said. “Jim was an institution in the Senate. He kept his relationship with Jesus, his family, and all Oklahomans as his priority. His passion for our military, aviation, energy, infrastructure, Africa, and our personal freedom was vital for our state and our nation.”Inhofe leaves behind his wife, Kay, and their three children. He is preceded in death by his son, Dr. Perry Dyson Inhofe II.

This story was updated Tuesday at 2:19 p.m.