GOVERNMENT

Inhofe donating official papers to OSU

Chris Casteel
Oklahoman
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe is shown in 2020 in The Okahoman's studio.

Retiring U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, the longest-serving senator in Oklahoma history, will donate his official papers to Oklahoma State University, Inhofe announced on Wednesday.

Inhofe, a Republican who is retiring early next month after 28 years in the U.S. Senate, said OSU will be the official repository for his papers and other items from his time in public office.

“In time, OSU will be able to provide access to the collection for students and researchers seeking to understand the history of our state and what we have done together,” Inhofe said.

“I am confident in OSU’s ability to preserve these papers, and I look forward to seeing how future students will use them in the course of their studies.”

Inhofe, 88, also served in the U.S. House, both houses of the state Legislature and as mayor of Tulsa. His current term has four years remaining. Republican U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin won a special election last month to fill the remainder of the term.

Before Inhofe broke the record, the longest service for Oklahomans in the U.S. Senate was 24 years by Elmer Thomas and Don Nickles.

Former U.S. Sens. Henry Bellmon and Tom Coburn also donated their papers to Oklahoma State University; both received bachelor’s degrees from the school. Inhofe received his bachelor’s degree from Tulsa University.

OSU President Kayse Shrum said, “After nearly three decades in the United States Senate, Sen. Jim Inhofe’s archive contains a wealth of historical context and information.

“We are honored that he has chosen Oklahoma State University, to keep and curate this collection. We thank Senator Inhofe for his many years of service to our state and nation and for this senatorial archive, which will serve as an invaluable learning tool for students interested in history, public service and more.”

Inhofe has played leading roles in the Senate on military, transportation and environmental issues. He has helped shape multi-year highway bills and the allocation of federal funding to road and bridge projects. He has also put his stamp on a range of U.S. defense policies while serving as the chairman and the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee.

Inhofe has voted on every current U.S. Supreme Court justice except Clarence Thomas and has been involved in the nominations of numerous federal judges in Oklahoma, along with U.S. appeals court judges from the state. He sat as a juror for the impeachment trials of former President Bill Clinton and former President Donald Trump.

The senator has participated in hearings for hundreds of executive branch nominees, including those for defense secretary.

He was in the Senate in 1995, when homegrown terrorists blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and was instrumental in crafting various bills in the aftermath.

Sheila Johnson, dean of libraries and Clerico Family Chair for Library Excellence at OSU, said Inhofe’s career “has helped shape today’s Oklahoma and left a mark on national discourse. His papers represent an important element of Oklahoma history, and this collection will serve as a valuable resource for researchers for generations to come.”