Inhofe, James Mountain (1934-2024), a Republican from Oklahoma, served as a member of the United States Senate from 1994 to 2023. During his service in the Senate, Inhofe supported measures to strengthen national security and the U.S. military. He also supported cutting taxes and improving the nation’s transportation systems.
Inhofe was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 17, 1934. He served in the U.S. Army in 1955 and 1956. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa in 1959. Inhofe became a licensed commercial pilot. He also worked as a real estate developer and an insurance executive.
From 1967 to 1969, Inhofe served in the Oklahoma state House of Representatives. He served in the Oklahoma state Senate from 1969 to 1977. From 1978 to 1984, Inhofe was mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In 1986, Inhofe won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1988, 1990, and 1992. In November 1994, Inhofe was elected to the U.S. Senate to finish the term of Senator David L. Boren, who had resigned. Inhofe won election to his first full Senate term in 1996. He was reelected in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. Inhofe retired from the Senate in January 2023.
As a senator, Inhofe served on the committees on Armed Services; Commerce; Environment and Public Works; and Small Business. He became known as a vocal skeptic of global warming and a strong supporter of the aviation and oil and gas industries. Inhofe died on July 9, 2024.
