Kohl, Herbert (1935-2023), a Democrat, represented Wisconsin in the United States Senate from 1989 to 2013. As a lawmaker, Kohl supported reform of the federal welfare system. He also focused on issues related to children and senior citizens.
Kohl was born in Milwaukee on Feb. 7, 1935. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1956 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University in 1958. From 1958 to 1964, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Kohl came from a wealthy family that had made its fortune from a chain of grocery and department stores. Kohl himself became a multimillionaire as president of Herbert Kohl Investments. He invested in local sports franchises by buying the Milwaukee Bucks professional basketball team and becoming part owner of the Milwaukee Brewers professional baseball team. Kohl sold the Bucks in 2014.
Kohl won his first election to the U.S. Senate in 1988. He took office in 1989. As a senator, Kohl served on the Appropriations, Banking, and Judiciary committees. He was also chairman of the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging. He did not run for reelection in 2012. Kohl died on Dec. 27, 2023.
