[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING JIM WHITTAKER

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I come to the floor to honor a true 
American legend, Jim Whittaker. Jim passed away at his home in Port 
Townsend on April 7, 2026, at the age of 97. A memorial in his honor 
will be held at the Mountaineers in Seattle on Sunday, June 14.
  Jim was born and raised, along with his twin Lou, in West Seattle. A 
towering figure, Jim was nicknamed ``Big Jim,'' and he more than lived 
up to the moniker.
  Born February 10, 1929, as a young boy, the mountains called to him, 
and by the 1940s he was exploring with the Boy Scouts and the 
Mountaineers. In 1948, he and his brother began running guiding 
services on Mount Rainier, eventually taking over management of that 
operation.
  In 1953, Jim answered the call to serve during the Korean war. He 
served at the Army's Mountain and Cold Weather command in Colorado, 
providing training to the 10th Mountain Division in skiing, climbing, 
mountain maneuvers, and bivouacs.
  Following an honorable discharge, Jim began another adventure: 
heading the first retail store for the fledging REI Co-op. Over 25 
years, he helped build REI, eventually becoming CEO and president. 
Under his leadership, it became a national brand focused on providing 
quality outdoor gear and fulfilling environmental conservation goals.
  Throughout this time, Jim's passion for big mountains never faded and 
led to one of the greatest achievements in American mountaineering 
history. In 1963, Jim and his Sherpa partner Nawang Gombu summitted 
Mount Everest. Jim was the first American to accomplish this feat. He 
was awarded the Hubbard Medal by President John F. Kennedy, who became 
a family friend.
  Building on this incredible achievement, in 1978, Jim led the 
American expedition to K2, largely considered one of the most difficult 
and dangerous peaks in the world. The expedition achieved the first 
ascent of K2, and Jim's leadership was crucial during harrowing times 
on the mountain.
  The word legend can become overused and diminished--not in ``Big 
Jim's'' case. Jim's life and legacy inspired generations of Americans 
to pursue heights they could only previously dream of.
  Beyond the mountains, Jim had a passion for sailing, conserving 
pristine landscapes in the Pacific Northwest, and for his family. I had 
the opportunity to meet Jim personally a few years ago and was honored 
to stand side by side with him in the fight to conserve our majestic 
State and protect the Wild Olympics.
  His legacy will live on for generations to come in his daring 
adventures, his efforts to pass on protected landscapes for future 
generations, and through the incredible family and friends who shared 
in his adventures.
  We should all look to the passion with which Jim lived his life day 
in and day out as an example to follow on our own journeys and 
adventures.

                          ____________________