After finishing graduate school, Kohl worked as an investor in real estate and the stock market, eventually spinning off his own company, Kohl Investments, to manage these assets. He and his brother became heirs to a family-owned chain that included 50 grocery stores and several department stores, pharmacies and liquor stores. In 1970, Kohl was named president of Kohl's and served until the corporation was sold to BATUS Inc. (formerly British American Tobacco) in 1978.[7]
After becoming prominent in Wisconsin business circles, Kohl also became involved in state politics as a donor and fundraiser for Patrick Lucey, who was elected Governor of Wisconsin in 1970 and reelected in 1974. After the 1974 election, Kohl first emerged in the state political arena as master of ceremonies at Lucey's second inauguration. Shortly after that inauguration, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Bill Gerrard—another Lucey ally—resigned.[8] Lucey encouraged Kohl to seek the chairmanship, and Kohl agreed. He was named interim chairman at an April 12, 1975, emergency session, and was then elected by the party's state convention delegates later that summer.[9]
Under Kohl's chairmanship, Democrats won historic victories in the 1976 election, reaching a supermajority in both chambers of the legislature for the first time since the creation of the Republican Party. Wisconsin also gave its electoral votes to the Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since 1964. And during the presidential nominating contest, Wisconsin's Democratic state primary had emerged as one of the pivotal contests in selecting a nominee. Shortly after the 1976 election, Kohl announced he felt that he had accomplished enough as chairman and was ready to step down.[10] He ultimately remained in office until the June 1977 state party convention.[11][12]
In 2013, Kohl began to bring in new partners who were committed to keeping the team in Milwaukee.[15] Kohl agreed to sell the Bucks to New York–based billionaires Wes Edens and Marc Lasry for $550 million on April 16, 2014.[13]
In his ownership, the Bucks went through six head coaches, which started with Don Nelson, who resigned in 1987 after his relationship with Kohl deteriorated.[16] The Bucks never reached the NBA Finals under Kohl's ownership.
On May 13, 2011, Kohl announced he would not run for re-election in 2012, saying, "The office doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the people of Wisconsin, and there is something to be said for not staying in office too long."[23]
Kohl voted in favor of most lawsuit reform measures as well as for rules tightening personal bankruptcy. He long supported amending the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget. He was one of the few Democrats to vote for the tax cut passed in 2001, and he also supported the elimination of the "marriage penalty". Despite these views, he was seen as generally supportive of progressive taxation. Like many moderate Democrats, he voted in favor of the welfare reform measures in the mid-1990s. He was also not opposed to the creation of individual, private savings accounts to supplement Social Security.[25]
Kohl generally had a pro-environmental record and was an outspoken proponent of American energy independence. He supported increased production of hydrogen cars, establishing a federal goal for reducing oil consumption by 40 percent, and disallowing oil speculation in protected areas. He voted against Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and was rated highly by groups that desire universal health care. He voted in favor of expanding Medicare and SCHIP and desired that prescription drugs be included under federal health coverage. During his 2006 reelection campaign, Kohl advocated that HMOs be placed under more scrutiny in order to determine if they're effectively delivering care.[25]
In 2005, Kohl secured a victory for one of his main causes: requiring handguns to be sold with child safety locks. The amendment was attached to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, with every Democrat and many Republicans voting in favor of the amendment.[32] Earlier in his career, he helped push the Gun-Free Schools Act which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in 1995 and submitted many amendments to that effect.[33] He was a strong supporter of public education and rejected school vouchers. Kohl voted in favor of allowing for the establishment of educational savings accounts.[1]
Kohl voted against authorizing the Gulf War in 1990. He voted in 2002 to authorize military force in Iraq.[41] Kohl voted on a number of occasions with more liberal Democrats to reduce military spending, voting against 1996 defense appropriations increases and supporting a veto of funding new military projects. Despite having been among the 98 U.S. senators who voted for the PATRIOT Act, Kohl subsequently opposed this legislation and voted to require warrants for wiretapping or the detention of prisoners.[25]
Personal life and death
Kohl was the wealthiest resident of Milwaukee, the richest Jewish American from Wisconsin, and one of the wealthiest U.S. senators.[42] In 2016, Forbes estimated Kohl's net worth to be $630 million.[43]
Kohl was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.[44] On July 22, 2021, Kohl was the key figure of the lead car in the Milwaukee Bucks NBA Championship parade. On the event, he said: "This is one of the big days of my life."[45] Kohl attended the Bucks' 2021–22 season opener at Fiserv Forum and was presented with a Bucks championship ring for his efforts in keeping the Bucks in Milwaukee.[46]
Kohl died on December 27, 2023, at age 88, at home in Milwaukee, following a brief illness.[47][48] The next day, GovernorTony Evers ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until his funeral.[49]
Philanthropy
Kohl donated $25 million to the University of Wisconsin–Madison for construction of its new sports arena, which was named the Kohl Center. In 1990, Kohl established the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Achievement Award Program, which provides annual grants totaling $400,000 to 200 graduating seniors, 100 teachers, and 100 schools throughout Wisconsin.[50] In 2016, he gave $1.5 million to the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs to create the Herb Kohl Public Service Research Competition, promoting public policy research.[51]