From Track Star To Capitol Hill

Jim Inhofe, Longtime Oklahoma Senator and Climate Change Denier, Dies at 87

From Track Star to Capitol Hill

WEB Jim Inhofe, a five-term Republican senator from Oklahoma and former mayor of Tulsa, has died at the age of 87. Inhofe made a name for himself as a vocal opponent of climate change, once famously bringing a snowball onto the Senate floor to prove that global warming was a hoax. Born James Mountain Inhofe on November 17, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, Inhofe grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a high school track star and graduated from Central High School. He went on to briefly attend the University of Colorado before finishing his college education at the University of Tulsa.

Inhofe began his political career as a member of the Tulsa City Council in 1970. He served as mayor of Tulsa from 1978 to 1984, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994.

Climate Change Skeptic

Inhofe was a staunch conservative and a fierce critic of environmental regulation. He was chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee from 2003 to 2007, during which time he blocked legislation aimed at addressing climate change.

Inhofe's skepticism of climate science was well-known. In 2015, he published a book titled "The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future." In the book, Inhofe argued that climate change was a "hoax" perpetrated by scientists and environmentalists.

Inhofe's death marks the end of an era in American politics. He was a colorful and controversial figure, known for his blunt style and his unwavering commitment to his beliefs. His legacy will be debated for years to come.