Former Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl, who was also once a Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin, died Wednesday. He was 88.
Herb Kohl Philanthropies broke the news of Kohl’s death but did not disclose a cause. It did, however, mention that Kohl died following a brief illness.
“More than anything, Herb loved Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and that is where he chose to live out his days,” Kohl’s foundation said in a statement. “He touched an incalculable number of lives, and those who love him would remark that he is among the most decent people to ever walk the earth.”
Kohl bought the Bucks for $18 million in 1985 and prevented them from leaving Milwaukee. He ended up selling the team for $550 million in 2014, with New York-based billionaires Wes Edens and Marc Lasry taking over as co-owners.
But Kohl’s involvement with the Bucks didn’t stop there. He put $100 million toward constructing Fiserv Forum, which became Milwaukee’s new home arena in 2018. The Bucks had previously played at the Bradley Center.
Kohl was in office as a senator from 1989-2013. He was the only Senate member who owned a professional sports team.
Aside from his ventures in sports and politics, Kohl also made his presence felt in the community, using his money to start the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation to provide scholarships and fellowships to Wisconsin students, teachers and schools.
Born in Milwaukee, Kohl grew up with Bud Selig, who served as Major League Baseball commissioner from 1998-2015. The two ended up being roommates at the University of Wisconsin, where Kohl got his bachelor’s degree before getting a master’s in business administration at Harvard.
“Senator Kohl was a dear friend and one of our very best public servants. In addition to his decades of devoted service in the U.S. Senate, he set the standard for NBA team ownership as the governor of his hometown, Milwaukee Bucks for nearly 30 years,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Through his purchase of the team, Senator Kohl ensured that the Bucks would stay in Milwaukee and remain an important pillar of the community.
“There was never any doubt about his extraordinary commitment to the franchise and city that he loved, and his vision and unparalleled financial contribution towards a new arena in Milwaukee will forever be remembered.”
–Field Level Media