State Chamber on Passing of Sen. Jim Inhofe
OKLAHOMA CITY (July 9, 2024) – Former United States Senator Jim Inhofe passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89.
“We lost a great Oklahoman today. Sen. Inhofe had a 50-plus year career of relationships and getting stuff done. He was always bringing good projects to Oklahoma,” said Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber of Oklahoma. “Sen. Inhofe’s record was unmatched. His service to Oklahoma – from serving in the Oklahoma legislature, to being the mayor of Tulsa, to his many years in the United States Senate – was just remarkable. He was a family man and just as genuine as you could be.”
Upon his retirement from the United States Senate, The State Chamber honored Sen. Inhofe’s numerous contributions to aviation by helping establish the Senator James M. Inhofe FAA Knowledge Test Scholarship in 2022. The award helps cover testing fees for Oklahoma high school students who are enrolled in the AOPA Foundation’s “You Can Fly” STEM curriculum.
“My hope is that his passion for flying is going to help kids take that first step to getting their pilot’s license and achieve a good career in aviation,” Warmington said. “It’s a perfect, symbolic testament of what he meant to Oklahoma and aviation. Sen. Inhofe’s legacy will lead to a whole new generation of kids involved in aerospace.”
Inhofe served as a United States senator from Oklahoma from 1994 to 2023. He is the state’s longest-serving U.S. senator.
Media Contact: Brent Skarky – brent@okstatechamber.com, (405) 818-1939
