James M. Inhofe, a prominent Oklahoma Republican who served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 30 years, passed away on July 9 at the age of 89. During his illustrious political career, Inhofe chaired the Armed Services and Environment committees in the Senate and gained a reputation as one of the most vocal skeptics of climate change in the Capitol.

Inhofe retired from the Senate in January 2023, marking the end of his six-decade-long engagement in politics. His career began with his involvement as a state legislator and later as the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma's second-largest city. He then served almost eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994.

With his extensive tenure, Inhofe became the longest-serving member of the Senate from his state and a highly respected figure within the Republican Party. Norman J. Ornstein, a congressional scholar and senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute, described him as a "rock-ribbed and senior figure" in the party.

Throughout his political journey, Inhofe consistently supported conservative causes, including his opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He also advocated for regulatory policies that benefited the oil industry in his home state of Oklahoma.

As the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Inhofe vigorously argued for robust military spending. However, he gained significant attention for his staunch denial of man-made climate change. In a 2003 speech on the Senate floor, Inhofe famously questioned whether climate change was "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people." He even authored a book in 2012 titled "The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future."

Inhofe's climate change denial reached a peak when, during his time as chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, he brought a snowball onto the Senate floor in 2015 to challenge the concept of global warming. His actions, including building an igloo labeled "Al Gore's New Home" during a snowstorm in 2010, displayed his disregard for the scientific consensus on climate change.

His influence in Washington grew during the presidency of Donald Trump, whom he actively supported. Inhofe played a pivotal role in filling key appointments in the Trump administration with individuals who shared his commitment to environmental deregulation. Notably, Scott Pruitt, a protégé of Inhofe's who served as the first administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under Trump, and Andrew Wheeler, Inhofe's former staff member, who succeeded Pruitt in leading the agency.

However, Inhofe did deviate from the Trump loyalists when he voted to certify Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, citing his commitment to his oath of office.

Beyond his political endeavors, Inhofe had diverse interests and talents. He was a licensed pilot and often flew himself to and from Washington. In 1991, he completed a global flight in honor of Wiley Post, an aviation pioneer. In his 2020 campaign ad, Inhofe showcased his flying skills by performing aerobatic maneuvers in an airplane, even flying upside down.

James M. Inhofe is survived by his wife, Kay Kirkpatrick, whom he married in 1959, and three children: Molly, Jimmy, and Katy. His son Perry, also an aviator, tragically lost his life in a plane crash in 2013.

Despite his strong conservative views, Inhofe was known for building working relationships and friendships with Democrats on Capitol Hill. Even though they strongly disagreed on issues like climate change, former Senator Barbara Boxer regarded him as a sibling with different worldviews, and they even exchanged humorous gifts during congressional hearings.

James M. Inhofe's passing marks the end of a political era in Oklahoma and leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for his impassioned defense of conservative values and controversial denial of climate change.