Former US senator and Milwaukee Bucks owner has Passed away

Former US senator and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl passed away at the age of 88 after a brief illness, as announced by the Herb Kohl Foundation on Wednesday. Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat and co-founder of the Kohl’s department store chain, had a 24-year tenure in the US Senate. A dedicated basketball fan, he purchased the Milwaukee Bucks in 1985 for $18 million, ensuring the team stayed in Milwaukee. Kohl, a philanthropist, donated millions to education-related causes in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Bucks, which Kohl sold in 2014, expressed deep condolences, highlighting his lifelong commitment to Wisconsin and Milwaukee. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Kohl’s commitment to the franchise, and the team announced plans for a memorial in the coming weeks.

Born in Milwaukee in 1935, Kohl played a pivotal role in growing his family’s grocery store into a successful chain of department stores. After selling the business in 1979, he invested in sports and won a US Senate seat in 1988. Kohl, a University of Wisconsin graduate and Harvard MBA holder, served in the US Army Reserves. As a senator, he chaired the Senate Aging Committee and advocated for increased federal investment in education.

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler remembered Kohl as a man whose life reflected the values of hard work, humility, and generosity that are deeply ingrained in the state he served.