Senator Jim Inhofe, RIP

I'm glad I wrote a tribute about Senator Inhofe two years ago. His life and career are worth honoring.

I am very saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and former US Senator James M. Inhofe. I worked on his successful '86 campaign for the House and his '94 upset win for US Senator. He was Oklahoma's longest-serving GOP Senator.

Jim Inhofe may not have started Oklahoma's shift from a Democratic to a Republican state - that honor belongs to US Sen. Don Nickles and President Reagan - but he sure finished it.

Jim and Kay Inhofe celebrate his 1994 upset win over fellow US House member Dave McCurdy (D-OK).

The left is celebrating the death of a "climate denier." I prefer to remember Jim for his acts of kindness, including supporting the Angel Tree program from Prison Fellowship to provide summer camp for children of prisoners and then asking to know their names so he could follow up. Radio talker Hugh Hewitt has been telling that story for several years.

Jim became a strong Christian during his US House years and was a terrific U.S. senator with friends across the political spectrum. He especially liked colleagues and people as blunt and honest as he was. His staff was among the best on Capitol Hill.

I'm glad I wrote a tribute to Senator Inhofe a couple of years ago when he announced his departure from the Senate. I tell lots of stories, and the memories of them are flooding my mind today.